Prom Dress by Norman Rockwell

March 19, 1949 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Prom Dress, a Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published March 19, 1949. This is another favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic enduring image of the world Rockwell painted.

This painting was Rockwell's 258th overall out of 322 total paintings that were published on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. Rockwell's career with the Post spanned 47 years, from his first cover illustration, Boy With Baby Carriage in 1916 to his last, Portrait of John F. Kennedy, in 1963.

This was also the first cover for The Post in 1949. In 1949, there were five Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

The location of the original oil on canvas painting is not known.

This painting also appears in five Rockwell commentary books. It appears:

• on pages 365 and 382 of Norman Rockwell 332 Magazine Covers by Christopher Finch,
• on page 45 of The Norman Rockwell Album
• as illustration 30 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch
• as illustration 452 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and
• on page 180 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

Pristine original copies of this magazine cover routinely sell for big bucks on eBay, when it is offered. And to think it only cost fifteen cents originally! And it was mint condition then, too.

Prom Dress

In this painting, Norman Rockwell shows us the evolution from a tomboy to a debutante.

We can see from the painting that this girl seems to prefer dungarees and flannel shirts. Bobby socks and a pair of loafers round out her ensemble.

We can see other insights into who this young lady is. The ice skates hanging on the closet door and the sparse, by today's standards, number of outfits hanging in the closet hint to us that she is not so concerned with dressing fancy.

But wait, March and April are prime promenade season months. She will have to wear a dress. And not just a dress, a prom gown.

She has brought the dress box into her room and set it on the her dressing stool. She has opened the box and set the top on the floor, leaning it against the closet door.

Now for the moment of truth; she doesn't try it on just yet. Lert's just see how it looks in the mirror. Her expression indicates that she is still not quite sure, but she just may like this dress.

We can also see an open shoebox on the bed. That shoebox contains gold colored slippers. She will look just wonderful.

It's just a good thing she also bought shoes. Those penny loafers just wouldn't compliment that beautiful prom dress.

I am positive whoever her date is will appreciate the dramatic change in her appearance. Unless, of course, he already thought she was beautiful. Then he will feel even smarter.

See also After The Prom.

Norman Rockwell's Prom Dress (1949)
(Image Only) Copyright © 1949 Saturday Evening Post & Curtis Publishing Company