Freedom of Speech (Norman Rockwell) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freedom of Speech |
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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 of Speech is a famous painting by Norman Rockwell. It is part of a group of four paintings he made called the Four Freedoms. Rockwell was inspired by a speech given by American President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This speech, called the Four Freedoms Speech, was given on January 6, 1941.
The Story Behind the Painting
This painting was first shown to the public in The Saturday Evening Post magazine. It appeared on February 20, 1943. An essay by Booth Tarkington was published alongside it. The other paintings in the Four Freedoms series are Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear. These were shown in other issues of the magazine.
In this painting, Rockwell shows a local town meeting. One person is speaking his own opinion, which is different from what others might think. The people listening are letting him speak freely. This shows the idea of freedom of speech.
Creating the Artwork
Norman Rockwell worked hard to get this painting just right. He tried four times to create the final version. He used his neighbors from Vermont as models for the people in his paintings.
In his earlier tries, Rockwell felt that the painting was too busy. There were too many things in the picture, which made it hard to focus. He also didn't like where the main speaker was placed in those first versions. He kept working until he was happy with the final result.
Touring for a Cause
After they were finished, the Four Freedoms paintings went on a tour across the United States. The tour had an important message: Buy War Bonds. These bonds were like loans to the government to help pay for World War II.
About 1.2 million Americans saw the paintings during this tour. Together, people bought 132 million dollars worth of war bonds. This money helped the country during the war.
Today, you can see the Freedom of Speech painting at the Norman Rockwell Museum. It is located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
