Freedom from Want

Freedom from Want, also known as The Thanksgiving Picture or I'll Be Home for Christmas, is one of Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms paintings, inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union Address, known as the Four Freedoms speech. Rockwell's works were published in 1943 in The Saturday Evening Post. Freedom from Want has become an iconic representation of the American Thanksgiving holiday and family gatherings.

Background

In January 1941, President Roosevelt delivered the Four Freedoms speech, in which he proposed four fundamental freedoms that people "everywhere in the world" ought to enjoy: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear. These freedoms were intended to highlight the values of democracy and were a rallying point for the United States during World War II. Norman Rockwell, an American illustrator, was inspired by Roosevelt's vision and created four paintings that illustrated these concepts.

Description

Freedom from Want depicts a multi-generational family gathered around a dining table for a holiday meal, with the matriarch placing a large turkey at the center of the table. The scene is set in a bright, comfortable interior, emphasizing warmth, abundance, and communal harmony. The faces of the family members are painted with Rockwell's characteristic attention to detail and expression, conveying a sense of individual personality and collective joy.

Interpretation

The painting is often interpreted as an idealized representation of American values, particularly the importance of family, community, and abundance. It also reflects the wartime ethos of shared sacrifice and the collective effort to achieve the Four Freedoms. Freedom from Want has been analyzed in the context of American art history as an example of Rockwell's ability to capture the essence of American identity and the spirit of the times.

Legacy

Freedom from Want has had a lasting impact on American culture and is frequently referenced in discussions of American traditions, especially Thanksgiving. It has been reproduced in various forms, including posters, stamps, and in educational materials. The painting is part of the permanent collection of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

See Also

• Four Freedoms (Norman Rockwell)
• Four Freedoms speech
• Norman Rockwell
• Thanksgiving (United States)