Girl Reading the Post, 1941 Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) Oil on board Always aiming for the widest possible audience for his Saturday Evening Post covers, Rockwell pictures often have several layers of interest. To assure a successful cover, Rockwell grabs the viewer's attention with a trick- he matches the cover girl's face perfectly to the schoolgirl's body. By picturing a reader so engrossed in the Post, Rockwell emphasizes the interest and allure of the magazine, thus promoting its sale on newsstands. Beyond the gimmick, a story of growing up emerges in the simple scene of commuting to school. This young girl may soon leave behind her scuffed saddle shoes for polished heels, and her cozy mittens for kidskin gloves. Painting for The Saturday Evening Post cover, March 1, 1941 35.25 x 27.25 inches Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of the Walt Disney Family, NRM.1999.3 ©1941 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN