Roadblock by Norman Rockwell

July 9, 1949 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Roadblock, a Norman Rockwell painting , appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published July 9, 1949. This is another favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic enduring image of the world Rockwell painted.

This painting was Rockwell's 260th 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 third cover for The Post in 1949. In 1949, there were five Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

The original oil on board painting, 30 x 23 inches or 76 x 58.5 cm, is part of a private collection.

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

• on page 100 of Norman Rockwell: A Sixty Year Retrospective by Thomas Buechner
• as illustration 32 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch
• as illustration 453 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and
• on page 182 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

A study also appears on page 182 of the Norman Rockwell Catalogue.

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.

Roadblock

In this painting, Norman Rockwell shows us how one little creature can affect the world around it almost totally.

This one little bulldog has caused quite a commotion. He has the whole alley blocked. He is not just delaying the workmen in the Pepies truck, he is keeping anyone else who wants to traverse the alley from completing their business.

Twenty human characters are totally enmeshed in this little saga.

The violin student cannot reach his lesson and the violin teacher cannot teach his student.

The lady on the second floor wooden balcony cannot finish her laundry. Apparently, this bull is her dog, since she seems distraught at his predicament. Her husband and child are also stuck watching the dog's adventure.

The art teacher and student have taken a break to watch this show also.

The mailman has stopped and is also watching.

The window washer has stopped to watch.

The cyclist and all the children cannot proceed down the alley to their destinations.

Even the cat has stopped to watch the saga. A pigeon alights on the clothesline in response to the cat's inattention.

What will be the outcome? Will all these people be late? Will the workman ba able to lure the dog out of the way?

Surely, if the truck starts moving again, the dog will get out of the way. That may be the solution.

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