By Jonathan Shih
Norman Rockwell "The Connoisseur", 1962
Norman Rockwell is a famous American illustrator, each of whose paintings can tell a whole story. His work entitled "The Connoisseur" is no exception, introducing us to a visitor to the Museum of Abstract Art.
The hero stands in a spacious exhibition hall and looks at a painting painted in the style of Jackson Pollock, a famous abstract artist. Perhaps the man was not familiar with such work before, since he is standing too close to the canvas, examining it in great detail.
The hero of the story wants to look like an obvious connoisseur of art, although he is unlikely to be one in reality. The painting is full of irony, like many other works by Norman Rockwell.
Combining Pollock's signature painting with Rockwell's signature illustrations, the painting "The Connoisseur" symbolizes the relationship between traditional and modern art.
This work first appeared as an illustration on the cover of the American weekly publication Saturday Evening Post on January 13, 1962. The original oil painting on canvas, measuring 96 x 80 cm, is in a private collection.
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