NORMAN ROCKWELL (1894-1978) [THE FOUR FREEDOMS.] Group of 4 posters. 1943. Each 55 1/2x39 1/2 inches, 141x100 1/4 cm. U.S. Government Printing Office, [Washington, D.C.] Condition varies, generally A-: folded as issued. Paper. On January 6, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed the United States Congress on the escalating threat to American security caused by the war raging in Europe. In this now famous "Four Freedoms" speech, Roosevelt encouraged America to step up war production and put the nation in the mindset for the inevitable involvement in the war. Toward this end, he illuminated America's lofty goal: "In future days which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded on four essential human freedoms." Norman Rockwell, whose prolific work for The Saturday Evening Post had already captured the hearts of Americans, took these four freedoms and deftly pictured them in his classic style. Originally, Rockwell's sketches based on his Vermont neighbors were turned down by the OWI. It wasn't until after these images appeared on four covers of The Saturday Evening Post in February and March 1943, that the Government realized their value, took the original paintings on tour, and turned the images into posters. The resulting powerful combination of words and images were successfully used by the government to raise money for the war effort. Printed in three sizes, these are the scarcer, largest format. American Style p. 132, Posters for Victory p. 40ff, Design for Victory p. 37, War Posters 210, Nelson p. 48, Judd 7.1, IWM II p.52.
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