Knowledge Is Power by Norman Rockwell

October 27, 1917 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Knowledge Is Power, this Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published October 27, 1917.

The illustration has also been called Boy Writing on Chalkboard.

This painting was Rockwell's tenth overall picture out of 322 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.

This was also the fourth Rockwell cover in 1917. The Post featured a Rockwell illustration on its cover four times in 1917.

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

This painting has been reproduced in three Rockwell commentary books, as illustration 88 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch, as illustration 107 of and on page76 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

Pristine copies of the original magazine cover have sold for more than one hundred dollars on eBay. And it only cost five cents brand new.

Knowledge Is Power

Rockwell's famous or infamous sense of humor is evident in this painting from 1917.

Here is a boy staying after school. Writing "Knowledge is power" on the chalkboard is his punishment. We do not know his offense. From his punishment, we can surmise that he might have questioned why he was required to attend school.

I am sure that was as common a question then as it is now.

The happy look on his face, despite being punished, tells us that he also sees the irony in the picture.

Just like the saying goes, knowledge is power. But knowing how to use power is where knowledge really becomes powerful.

He now has some measure of power over his teacher.

She is seeing a suitor. The boy now knows the identity of her suitor. He also knows that the suitor calls on the teacher at school. Whether this is a "no-no" or not is up to the opinions of the principal of the school.

How do we know this man is her suitor? The look in her eyes gives that away. Also the box of candy in his hand, hidden from Teacher behind his back. There is also an inscription on the candy box that we cannot read.

How will the boy use his newfound knowledge? To gain power.

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