Norman Rockwell: Four Freedoms and The Problem We All Live With

Vocabulary flashcards covering Norman Rockwell, his iconic works Freedom from Want and The Problem We All Live With, and the historical context surrounding them.

Norman Rockwell

American painter and illustrator (born 1894, New York) famed for covering The Saturday Evening Post and depicting everyday American life and social change.

The Saturday Evening Post

Weekly magazine for which Rockwell produced over 320 cover illustrations.

Freedom from Want

1943 Rockwell painting, part of the Four Freedoms, celebrating family, abundance, and a secure home as wartime morale and prosperity ideal.

Four Freedoms

A series by Rockwell envisioning the four essential freedoms described by FDR in 1941 (speech, worship, want, and fear).

Great Depression

Severe economic downturn in the 1930s that shaped American life and art, including Rockwell’s era of work.

World War II

Global conflict (1939–1945) during which Rockwell's art aimed to support morale and the war effort.

Civil Rights era

Period in the 1950s–1960s focused on ending racial segregation and achieving equal rights in the United States.

The Problem We All Live With

1964 Rockwell painting depicting Ruby Bridges being escorted to school by U.S. marshals, addressing segregation.

Ruby Bridges

Six-year-old African American girl shown in Rockwell’s painting; symbol of innocence amid segregation.

Look magazine

Publication that published The Problem We All Live With in 1964, sparking discussion and awareness.

Graffiti and thrown tomatoes

Background elements in The Problem We All Live With representing prejudice and hostile attitudes.

U.S. marshals

Federal officers who escorted Ruby Bridges to school in the painting, reflecting enforcement during civil rights.

Civil Rights Movement

Movement in the U.S. aiming to end racial segregation and secure legal equality.

Oil on canvas

Medium used for both Freedom from Want and The Problem We All Live With.

Realist style

Rockwell’s painting approach: realistic, highly detailed, and capable of delivering emotional impact.