Boy at Barber by Norman Rockwell

August 10, 1918 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

This painting was Rockwell's thirteenth overall picture featured on the cover of The Post and the third Rockwell cover in 1918. The Post featured a Rockwell illustration on its cover four times in 1918.

Boy at Barber

Once again, Norman Rockwell exposes us to another childhood ritual. This time we are privy to a boy's first haircut.

Rockwell features three characters in this painting.

First, and least interesting, is the barber. Rockwell always painted in meticulous detail. Whether the model was an actual barber or not, he is posed just as an actual barber would be. His hands are positioned correctly.

Next is the boy in the barber's chair. By the length of his hair, this must be his first haircut ever.

The boy is grinning broadly. He must be watching his shearing in the barbershop mirror. he has probably tired of having such long hair and is glad to get rid of it.

The boy's mother watches from behind. She must not be entirely ready for this milestone. She is shedding a tear. She is covering her mouth with a handkerchief so her soft sob will not be heard by either the barber or her son.

Her little boy is growing up. She cannot stop that any more than she can stop his hair from growing...
(continued)

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