Soldier and Girl with Letter From the Red Cross
by Norman Rockwell

July 1919 Issue
of Red Cross

This Norman Rockwell painting, entitled Soldier and Girl with Letter From the Red Cross, appeared on the cover of Red Cross on the July 1919 issue.

This was the third picture by Rockwell to appear on the Red Cross cover. Red Cross only published four Rockwell illustrated covers, between 1918 and 1920.

Rockwell only submitted his illustrations to this and other smaller magazines after the publishers of the larger magazines had declined to publish the cover illustration.

Clearly, Rockwell's first choice of publication was The Saturday Evening Post. He believed that the Post cover was America's biggest showcase window for artists. Of course, his career confirmed this.

Soldier and Girl with Letter From the Red Cross

Here we have a soldier sitting with his wife. We can safely assume this is his wife because he wears a wedding band on his left hand.

The soldier's wife is reading a letter from the Red Cross. Notice the red cross on the letter.

There is another letter with an identical envelope laying at her side. Why has she received two? Maybe one addressed to her maiden name and one to her married name ?

There is also a stack of letters tied in a ribbon in her lap. The ribbon and the size of the stack suggests that these letters may be from her sweetheart during the war. Of course, now that sweetheart is her husband.

The background of this painting gives the appearance that this scene is happening outside. Leaves are recognizable, as is light shining through the gaps.