Artwork of the Day - 25 November 2004
 

Norman Rockwell
The Problem We All Live With
1964

http://www.guggenheim.org/exhibition...problem_lg.jpg

Norman Rockwell is one of America's best known and most loved artists. His realistic paintings usually depict everyday life, often in a humourous way. In In Rockwell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his "vivid and affectionate portraits of our country" and died the following year.

This painting is not his usual lighthearted subject matter.

It was inspired by the Ruby Bridges case who was selected by the NCAAP to attend a "segregated" school in New Orleans. Every day she was escorted to school by US Federal Marshalls and had to brave physical, racial and emotional abuse at the hands of whites. The parents removed their children and Ruby had to sit alone in a class, with just her teacher, afraid to even eat her lunch (an angry parent had threatened to poison her). Eventually some parents sent their children back towards the end of the year and the following year the school was fully integrated.

Ruby Bridges grew up to create the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which promotes social change and tolerance through the education of children.

The painting is striking for its use of colour. Ruby's dress is deliberately white to contrast with her skin; the Marshalls are shown in drab brown that almost blends into the wall. The bright red of the tomato stain is the only vibrant colour we see and it brings our eyes to the wall with its disturbing graffiti.



Mr Mephisto

Nice one Mr. M.

An accute reminder of the strides that have been made and the daunting work that remains to be done.

It's funny that i ran into this right now. I'm at work, and about a half hour ago i went outside to have a cigarette. There was a bum hanging out in the alley drinking a tall boy who walked up to me to tell me a story. He was an older gentleman (at least by looks, that lifestyle doesnt do much for looking young) balding, etc. The story was something he had seen on a news program (i think,,, his speach was extremely disjointed) and about halfway through the story he mentioned the "nigger who had four kids by different women." and he acted insulted when i told him not to use that word in front of me and stumbled off. It's sad that things like this still exist.