Baker Reading Diet Book by Norman Rockwell

January 3, 1953 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Baker Reading Diet Book, a painting by Norman Rockwell, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published January 3, 1953. This is yet another timeless favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic for all the ages.

An alternate title for this painting is How to Diet.

This painting was Rockwell's first cover for The Post in 1953. In 1953, there were four Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

This was also the 275th Rockwell painting overall out of 322 total featured on the cover of the 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.

I have seen pristine original copies of this magazine cover sell for big bucks on eBay. And to think it only cost fiften cents originally! And it was mint condition then, too.

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

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

• as illustration 20 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch,
• as illustrations 475 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and
• on page 192 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

This classic Norman Rockwell painting reveals a pastry chef reading a book about dieting.

Baker Reading Diet Book

Norman Rockwell, always topical with his paintings, depicts a common American concern in this illustration.

This painting was published on the first Saturday after the holiday season. We all know how hard it is to maintain our ideal weight during the holidays.

There are always cakes, pies and other sweet treats to tempt us during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Not to mention, all the cooked meats and their associated rich sauces. It makes me hungry just thinking about it.

It is no wonder people overeat with all this choice during the holidays. This baker obviously is exposed, on a daily basis, to more culinary temptation than most of the rest of us.

And he has decided to take action.

Our pastry chef/baker is boning up on the latest dieting information. The book he is reading is titled How to Diet.

It is probably not that great an idea to be reading the diet book while sitting surrounded by almost any kind of cake imaginable.

He is a man of generous proportions to start with. We do not know how long he has been dieting. We also do not know if that book is his first diet guidance. For all we know, we may be witnessing an ongoing battle of the bulge.

Still one has to admire his dogged determination. He is eating what looks like carrots on a bed of lettuce. The contrast between that plate and the painting background is striking.

And that plate of vegetables is sitting on top of what is probably a cannister of either sugar or flour. He seems oblivious to all the caloric splendor surrounding him.

Norman Rockwell does an excellent job of portraying the bakery shop. He always thoroughly researched his paintings, so you can be sure that this is a true representaion of an actual bakery.

We are treated to seeing many different kinds of cakes in all different sizes, colors and decorations.

We also get to see all the different paraphernalia associated with baking. From beaters to pedestals, it is all there.

Norman Rockwell's Baker Reading Diet Book (1953)
Copyright © 1953 Saturday Evening Post & Curtis Publishing Company