Boy on Stilts by Norman Rockwell

October 4, 1919 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Boy on Stilts, this Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published October 4, 1919.

This painting was Rockwell's twenty-fourth overall picture out of 322 total featured on the cover of The Post.

It was also the tenth Rockwell cover in 1919. The Post featured a Rockwell illustration on its cover eleven times in 1919.

The original oil on canvas painting, 25 x 20 inches or 63.5 x 51 cm, is part of the collection of Studio 53.

This painting has been reproduced in two Rockwell commentary books, as illustration 120 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and on page 81 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

This cover rarely shows up in excellent condition. Consequently, I have seen copies of the original published cover in great condition sell for big bucks on eBay. And it only cost a nickel when it was newly purchased.

Boy on Stilts

In this painting, Norman Rockwell depicts one of his favorite themes.

A recurring topic in Rockwell's paintings, especially his early work, is children in humorous situations.

The child this time is a boy. This boy is trying to walk on home-made stilts.

The stilts look homemade.

Rockwell's penchant for funny scenes would seem to dictate that the boy made the stilts himself. No doubt his father could have made them sturdier, but it's funnier if his plight is his own doing.

The stilts are perfectly serviceable, but they look unwieldy.

The boy has even lost his straw hat.

To make matters worse for the boy, his dog is running around in circles. The dog is trailing the rope on his collar around the makeshift stilts.

The boy is soon to fall.

Will he climb back on? The smart money says "yes".

But he will retrieve his hat first!

Previous Cover Man Leaving Work to Go Golfing

Next Cover Grandfather and Snowman