Norman Rockwell Used Photography as Subject of His Paintings

The Runaway, 1958, is an example of Norman Rockwell's photorealism.

Norman Rockwell used photos, taken by a rotating cast of photographers, to make his illustrations -- and all of his models were neighbors and friends, including that little boy! Rockwell never kept it a secret, but for some reason this little fact has been neglected in recent decades. Although he may not have clicked the shutter, Rockwell directed every facet of every composition.

A new book, Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera, reveals Rockwell's use of photographs in his illustrative process. There's also a companion exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass.

NPR