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Freedom from Want (painting)
Encyclopedia
Freedom from Want or The Thanksgiving Picture is one of Four Freedoms
paintings by Norman Rockwell
that were inspired by United States President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
in the State of the Union Address
, known as Four Freedoms
, he delivered to the 77th United States Congress
on January 6, 1941. The other paintings in this series were Freedom of Speech
, Freedom from Fear
, and Freedom of Worship.
Freedom from Want was published in the March 6, 1943, issue of The Saturday Evening Post
with a matching essay by Carlos Bulosan
as part of the Four Freedoms series. The image was included as the cover image of the 1946 book Norman Rockwell, Illustrator, written when Rockwell was "at the height of his fame as America's most popular illustrator." Rockwell claims to have painted the Turkey
on Thanksgiving
, and unlike Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Worship, this painting was not difficult to execute.
Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving
work as important a place in the enduring marketplace of promoting family togetherness, peace and plenty as Hallmark
at Christmas. Outside of the United States, this image is perceived as a depiction of American overabundance. This painting depicts the common positive Rockwell themes of American prosperity and dependability for a generation who looked to Rockwell to appeal to their traditional values. This image of family life is an example of the regionalism
and idealism
that dominate Rockwell's work. Rockwell summed up his own form of idealism best: "I paint life as I would like it to be."
The painting represents the theme of family continuity, virtue, homeliness and abundance without extravagance in a Puritan
tone (as confirmed by water as the modest beverage choice). The abundance and unity it shows were the idyllic hope of a post-war world and this image has endured for generations of reproductions. One of the esteemed elements of the image is his use of white on white.
This image's iconic status has led to parody
and satire
. New York painter Frank Moore re-created Rockwell's all-white Americans with an ethnically diverse family, as "Freedom to Share" (1994), in which the turkey platter was brimming over with healthcare supplies. Among the better known reproductions is Mickey
and Minnie Mouse
entertaining their cartoon family with a festive turkey. Several political cartoons and even frozen vegetable advertisements have invoked this image. In The Walt Disney Company
film Lilo & Stitch
, a montage of images prior to the end credits includes an homage of Freedom from Want featuring the characters of the film.
Four Freedoms (Norman Rockwell)
The Four Freedoms or Four Essential Human Freedoms is a series of oil paintings produced in 1943 by the American artist Norman Rockwell. The paintings are approximately equal in dimension with measurements of ×...
paintings by Norman Rockwell
Norman Rockwell
Norman Percevel Rockwell was a 20th-century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening...
that were inspired by United States President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
in the State of the Union Address
State of the Union Address
The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President of the United States to the United States Congress. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the president to outline his legislative agenda and his national priorities.The practice arises...
, known as Four Freedoms
Four Freedoms
The Four Freedoms were goals articulated by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 6, 1941. In an address known as the Four Freedoms speech , he proposed four fundamental freedoms that people "everywhere in the world" ought to enjoy:# Freedom of speech and expression# Freedom of worship#...
, he delivered to the 77th United States Congress
77th United States Congress
-Major events:* December 7, 1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor* December 8, 1941: Joint Session of Congress met to hear President Roosevelt deliver his "Day of Infamy" speech...
on January 6, 1941. The other paintings in this series were Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Speech (painting)
Freedom of Speech is one of Four Freedoms paintings by Norman Rockwell that were inspired by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the State of the Union Address, known as Four Freedoms, he delivered to the 77th United States Congress on January 6, 1941...
, Freedom from Fear
Freedom from Fear (painting)
Freedom from Fear is one of Four Freedoms by Norman Rockwell that were inspired by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the State of the Union Address he delivered to the 77th United States Congress on January 6, 1941...
, and Freedom of Worship.
Freedom from Want was published in the March 6, 1943, issue of The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
with a matching essay by Carlos Bulosan
Carlos Bulosan
Also known as Julius Zafra , a Filipino, an English-language novelist and poet who spent most of his life in the United States, and is best known for the semi-autobiographical America Is in the Heart.-Life and career:Carlos Bulosan was born to Ilocano parents in...
as part of the Four Freedoms series. The image was included as the cover image of the 1946 book Norman Rockwell, Illustrator, written when Rockwell was "at the height of his fame as America's most popular illustrator." Rockwell claims to have painted the Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
, and unlike Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Worship, this painting was not difficult to execute.
Critical review
Of the four paintings, this is the one most often seen in art books with critical review and commentary. The painting has become a nostaligic symbol of an enduring American theme of holiday celebration. Although all four images were intended to promote patriotism in a time of war, Freedom from Want, which depicts an elderly couple serving a fat turkey to what looks like a table of happy and eager children and grandchildren has given the idealizedIdealism
In philosophy, idealism is the family of views which assert that reality, or reality as we can know it, is fundamentally mental, mentally constructed, or otherwise immaterial. Epistemologically, idealism manifests as a skepticism about the possibility of knowing any mind-independent thing...
Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
work as important a place in the enduring marketplace of promoting family togetherness, peace and plenty as Hallmark
Hallmark
A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of precious metals — platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium...
at Christmas. Outside of the United States, this image is perceived as a depiction of American overabundance. This painting depicts the common positive Rockwell themes of American prosperity and dependability for a generation who looked to Rockwell to appeal to their traditional values. This image of family life is an example of the regionalism
Regionalism (art)
Regionalism is an American realist modern art movement that was popular during the 1930s. The artistic focus was from artists who shunned city life, and rapidly developing technological advances, to create scenes of rural life...
and idealism
Idealism
In philosophy, idealism is the family of views which assert that reality, or reality as we can know it, is fundamentally mental, mentally constructed, or otherwise immaterial. Epistemologically, idealism manifests as a skepticism about the possibility of knowing any mind-independent thing...
that dominate Rockwell's work. Rockwell summed up his own form of idealism best: "I paint life as I would like it to be."
The painting represents the theme of family continuity, virtue, homeliness and abundance without extravagance in a Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
tone (as confirmed by water as the modest beverage choice). The abundance and unity it shows were the idyllic hope of a post-war world and this image has endured for generations of reproductions. One of the esteemed elements of the image is his use of white on white.
This image's iconic status has led to parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
and satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
. New York painter Frank Moore re-created Rockwell's all-white Americans with an ethnically diverse family, as "Freedom to Share" (1994), in which the turkey platter was brimming over with healthcare supplies. Among the better known reproductions is Mickey
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
and Minnie Mouse
Minnie Mouse
Minerva "Minnie" Mouse is an animated character created by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney. The comic strip story "The Gleam" by Merrill De Maris and Floyd Gottfredson first gave her full name as Minerva Mouse. Minnie has since been a recurring alias for her. Minnie is currently voiced by actress Russi...
entertaining their cartoon family with a festive turkey. Several political cartoons and even frozen vegetable advertisements have invoked this image. In The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
film Lilo & Stitch
Lilo & Stitch
This article is about the movie. For the television series, see Lilo & Stitch: The Series.Lilo & Stitch is a 2002 American animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released on June 21, 2002...
, a montage of images prior to the end credits includes an homage of Freedom from Want featuring the characters of the film.