Every now and then, a forgotten photo folder brings back memories — and this time, it brought back something even more powerful: my first brush with Norman Rockwell’s art.
Back when I was just getting into photography, I stumbled across an old stack of Saturday Evening Post issues. They were timeworn, yellowed, and full of charm — and best of all, each cover featured a Rockwell painting. I didn’t know the historical weight of what I was looking at, but I knew it deserved to be captured.
So, I did what any curious beginner might do: I photographed them.
🗞️ A Weekly Window into American Life
The Saturday Evening Post was a weekly publication that ran Rockwell’s work regularly — especially on its Saturday covers from the 1920s through the 1950s. I now know that Rockwell produced over 300 covers during his career with the magazine.
At the time, I didn’t think of these images as collectible or historical. I just thought they were beautiful — snapshots of an America that felt both distant and familiar. I had about 12 covers in total, some dated as far back as 1926, and I spent hours experimenting with how to photograph and enhance them with my modest equipment.
📷 My Photos of Rockwell’s Covers
🕰️ About Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post
Norman Rockwell (1894–1978) is one of America’s most beloved illustrators, known for his ability to tell vivid stories of daily life through his work. He painted over 300 covers for the Saturday Evening Post, which became a fixture in American homes for decades.
These covers — some humorous, some emotional — are now treasured as cultural artifacts. They reflected the hopes, dreams, and even the struggles of American life during a rapidly changing time in history.
⚖️ Copyright Note
These photos are of original Saturday Evening Post covers featuring artwork by Norman Rockwell, taken by me for personal and educational reflection. All rights to the original artwork belong to the estate of Norman Rockwell and Curtis Publishing. The images are shared here not for commercial purposes, but as part of a personal journey in photography and appreciation for classic illustration.
Finding these photos again reminded me that inspiration often comes from unexpected places. I may not have realized the value of what I was capturing at the time, but I’m grateful to have preserved it — both for the sake of art, and for the sake of remembering how far I’ve come with a camera in hand.