Freedom from Want (Norman Rockwell) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freedom from Want |
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| Artist | Norman Rockwell |
| Year | 1943 |
| Medium | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 116.2 cm × 90 cm (45.75 in × 35.5 in) |
| Location | Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, United States |
Freedom from Want is a famous painting by Norman Rockwell. It is part of a series of four paintings called the Four Freedoms. Rockwell was inspired to create these artworks after hearing a speech by American President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This speech, given on January 6, 1941, was also called the Four Freedoms Speech.
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What is the Painting About?
This painting was first shown to the public in The Saturday Evening Post magazine on March 6, 1943. It appeared alongside an essay by Carlos Bulosan. The other paintings in the Four Freedoms series are Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, and Freedom from Fear. These were featured in other issues of the magazine.
The painting shows a classic American family celebrating Thanksgiving. A large turkey is being served at their meal. Rockwell used his neighbors from Vermont as models for the people in this series of paintings.
Rockwell wanted to show a family that felt connected and had good values. He aimed to portray a cozy home with plenty of food, but not too much. For example, water was chosen as the drink to show modesty.
However, outside the United States, some people saw the painting differently. They interpreted it as a symbol of America having too much.
How Has the Painting Been Used?
Many artists and creators have made their own versions of Freedom from Want. For example, New York painter Frank Moore (1953-2002) created a painting in 1994 called Freedom to Share. This version showed Americans of different backgrounds. The turkey platter was filled with medicines instead of food. Other parodies have been made of Moore's painting too.
Walt Disney also created a well-known parody. It featured Mickey and Minnie Mouse and other Disney characters at the table. The image has also been used for many advertisements, political campaigns, and postcards.
How Did the Paintings Help During World War II?
The Four Freedoms paintings traveled across the United States. Their tour encouraged people to Buy War Bonds. War bonds were a way for citizens to lend money to the government to help pay for World War II. In total, 1.2 million Americans saw the paintings. The tour helped collect 132 million dollars for the war effort.
Today, you can see the original Freedom from Want painting. It is displayed at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
