Happy Thanksgiving

Inspired by President Roosevelt’s January 6, 1941 State of the Union address, Norman Rockwell (1894–1978) created four paintings: Freedom of Speech, Freedom from Want, Freedom of Worship and Freedom from Fear.

“Rockwell struggled with how to illustrate these abstract concepts but, in 1943, after numerous drafts and studies, he represented the four freedoms in a way every American could identify with and understand,” notes Sarah Cash, Bechhoefer Curator of American Art at the Corcoran and exhibition curator.

In 1994, on the 100th anniversary of Rockwell's birth, his paintings appeared on the souvenir sheet shown above.

Today we should all be grateful for these and al the other freedoms we enjoy.

For more on The Four Freedoms and the story behind the paintings, click here.