Rivals by Norman Rockwell

September 9, 1922 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Rivals, this Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published September 9, 1922.

This painting was Rockwell's fifty-first 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 eighth Rockwell cover in 1922. The Post featured a Rockwell illustration on its cover ten times in 1922.

The location of the original painting is not known.

This illustration has been reproduced in two Rockwell commentary books, as illustration 152 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and on page 90 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

Examples of this cover in higher grades are few and far between. I have seen this cover sell for more than one hundred dollars at auction. Expect to pay even more for higher grades.

Rivals

Here we have another classic humorous situation courtesy of Norman Rockwell.

Painting situations such as this were his stock in trade.

Two boys arrive at the object of their mutual affections at the same time. Now it gets interesting.

The taller boy brings a present wrapped in paper and ribbon. The other boy brings flowers. This is a virtual tie.

Both boys are dressed in their most impressive clothes. Both wear bow ties, dress jackets, hats, knee socks, etc.

Sweetheart will have to decide her preference of suitor based on something other than attire.

The shorter boy, the redhead, seems to be saying, "Oh no, you don't," as he holds the fence gate closed.

Both boys are looking cross.

Let's just hope the contest doesn't progress to a duel as the emblem painted between them adorned with pistols and heart might suggest.

Let's also hope a third boy doesn't sneak through while these two are arguing. Although that development would also be typical of Rockwell's humorous paintings.

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