Planning the Home by Norman Rockwell

May 8, 1920 Issue of The Literary Digest

Planning the Home, this Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Literary Digest published May 8, 1920.

The alternate title for this work is Family Reading Blueprints.

This illustration was Rockwell's fifteenth picture featured on the cover of The Literary Digest.

The Digest featured Rockwell artwork on the cover nine times total in 1920 alone.

Starting in 1918 with the first cover, Boy Showing Off Badges to the last, The Night Before Christmas in 1923, The Literary Digest featured Rockwell artwork on its cover a total of forty-seven times.

This painting also appears on page 52 of the Rockwell commentary book, Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

The location of the original oil on canvas painting is unknown.

Planning the Home

Knowing the topical nature of Norman Rockwell's illustrations, we can assume that a housing boom was in progress in the early 1920's.

Family Reading Blueprints features a moment in time with a young couple and their toddler.

The young parents are trying to decide which house they want to build. Are they merely daydreaming or are they seriously studying their options?

Economic conditions were good in 1920. Both are well dressed. The husband is wearing a business suit. They are portrayed as having the means to build a house as opposed to merely daydreaming. Also they would not be considering four different floor plans if they were only daydreaming.

Their toddler is also busy building her own house. The building blocks she is playing with are beginning to take the shape of a house. Possibly she has seen and heard her parents desires, and she is going to please them with her little home-made house.

Also of note in Rockwell's painting is the wonderful period upholstered chair.

Little Boy Writing Letter	The Novice Skater	The Departing Maid
Boy With Dog in Picnic Basket	Boy Sending Dog Home	Trio in Early Motorcar
Cave of the Winds	Man and Woman Seated Back to Back	Grandfather Frightened by Jack-O-Lantern
Santa and Expense Book

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