Freedom from Want

Freedom from Want
Norman-Rockwell-Freedom-from-Want-1943
Artist Norman Rockwell
Year 1943
Medium Oil on canvas
Location Norman Rockwell Museum,
Stockbridge, MA
Dimensions 45.75 in × 35.5 in
116.2 cm × 90 cm
Norman Rockwell Famous Artwork
Freedom of Speech, 1943
Freedom from Want, 1943
Freedom of Worship, 1943
Freedom from Fear, 1943
The Problem We All Live With, 1964
Breaking Home Ties, 1954
Russian Schoolroom, 1967
Rosie The Riveter, 1943
Complete Works

Freedom from Want is a painting by American artist Norman Rockwell. The painting, which is also known as The Thanksgiving Picture, is an oil on canvas work completed in 1943, and is in the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The painting is 45.75 by 35.5 inches.

Inspiration

Rockwell was inspired to do this work by a State of the Union address by President F.D. Roosevelt. The artist painted three other works inspired by the same speech. At the time the work was undertaken, America was involved in World War 2, and the painting is intended to show that despite the difficulties the country was facing, traditional American family values were still highly important.

Composition

The painting depicts three generations of a family around a table at Thanksgiving. The father is standing at the head of the table as the mother is about to place a large turkey in front of him.

The opulence of the turkey is counterbalanced by the relative scarcity of other foods on the table and the presence of water as the only beverage.