Redhead Loves Hatty Perkins by Norman Rockwell

September 16, 1916 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Redhead Loves Hatty Perkins, this Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published September 16, 1916.

This painting was Rockwell's fourth illustration featured on the cover of The Post. The Post featured Rockwell artwork on the cover six times in 1916.

The location of the original oil on canvas painting is unknown

This painting also appears in three Rockwell commentary books. It appears as illustration 68 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch, as illustration 90 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and on page 74 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

This cover is very hard to find in pristine condition. For tha reason, it sells for a huge price when available.

Norman Rockwell - Children's Artist

At one point of his career, Norman Rockwell could have been considered a children's artist.

Until his big break by being published on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post, Rockwell was primarily published in children's magazines.

He illustrated many articles and covers for Boys Life, St. Nicholas and The Youth's Companion.

At this point in his career, Rockwell's paintings mainly focused on humorous or amusing situations with children. Keep in mind that Rockwell was only 22 years old in 1916.

Rockwell painted what he knew and loved best in Redhead Loves Hatty Perkins.

Redhead Loves Hatty Perkins

In this painting, we see Rockwell's Redhead heading home from school. He stops in front of an old fence. Scrawled in chalk on the fence is the inscription "Redhead Loves Hatty Perkins."

Below the inscription is a crude drawing of two heads kissing, a boy and a girl with a pony tail. Even further down the fence, we see a heart with the initials BR and HP inside it.

We know that this particular Redhead is BR. He has written his initials on the side of the books he is carrying home.

Redhead or BR apparently dislikes the fence art. As soon as he sees it, he looks around with his fist clenched.

Why was Redhead angry?

Was his love for Hatty real, but meant to be a secret? Was it unrequited love? Did he even officially like girls yet? Had he just been kind to Hatty and the other boys decided to make him pay for it? Was Hatty the homeliest girl in school?

Norman Rockwell doesn't answer these questions about the painting. We are free to imagine any explanation we want.

Norman Rockwell's Redhead Loves Hatty Perkins (1916)
Copyright © 1916 Saturday Evening Post & Curtis Publishing Company

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