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Home , Four Freedoms (Rockwell), Freedom from want, Norman Rockwell Museum, Willie Gillis

EXHIBITION PRESS KIT

75th ANNIVERSARY of D-Day

ROCKWELL, ROOSEVELT & The Four

4 JUNE TO 27 OCTOBER 2019 (1894-1978), ofSpeech, detail,1943. © SEPS: CurtisLicensing, Indianapolis,IN.Allrightsreserved. www.curtislicensing.com Oil oncanvas,45¾”x35 ½”.Illustration forTheSaturdayEveningPost, March 13,1943.Collection ofNorman RockwellMuseum. Norman Rockwell(1894-1978), , detail,1943. © SEPS: CurtisLicensing,Indianapolis,IN. Allrightsreserved. www.curtislicensing.com Oil oncanvas,45¾”x35½”.Illustration forTheSaturdayEveningPost, ,1943.CollectionofNorman RockwellMuseum. Norman Rockwell(1894-1978),, detail,1943. © SEPS: CurtisLicensing,Indianapolis,IN. Allrightsreserved. www.curtislicensing.com Oil oncanvas,46”x35½”.Illustration forTheSaturdayEveningPost, February 27, 1943. CollectionofNorman RockwellMuseum. Norman Rockwell(1894-1978),Freedom ofWorship, detail,1943. © SEPS: CurtisLicensing,Indianapolis,IN. Allrightsreserved. www.curtislicensing.com Oil oncanvas,45¾”x35½”.Illustration forTheSaturdayEveningPost , ,1943.CollectionofNorman RockwellMuseum. COVER PHOTOS CONTENTS 14 15 8 6

3 5 7 OF AMERICA AT THE CAEN MÉMORIAL AND RESERVATIONS SUPPORT SHOWN OVERVIEW INTRODUCTION ADMISSION EXHIBITION EXHIBITION THE ARTWORKS A STORY NORMAN ROCKWELL

On January 6, 1941, American President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave one of the most important speeches of the 20th century. It was the “” speech.

The U.S. was not yet at war, although other paintings, they will be shown at the Europe and Asia were. Inspired by this Caen Memorial for the 75th anniversary speech, Norman Rockwell produced four of the Allied Landings and the Battle of paintings to illustrate the “Four Free- Normandy. doms”. During the war, these paintings The D-Day Landings on June 6, 1944, travelled the United States, raising 130 heralded the liberation of Western Eu- million dollars to support the war effort. rope. The Battle of Normandy led to INTRODUCTION These four paintings, which are among the collapse of the German army on the most famous and important artworks the Western front and the liberation of 20th-century America, will leave the of Paris. U.S. for the first time ever. Along with

Unknown Photographer, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s annual message to Congress January 6, 1941. Digital reproduction © Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Hyde Park, New York. Hyde Park/National Archives.

Press relations: Fanny El Hajel Kaïd / 02 31 06 06 47 / [email protected] 3 « In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is and expression - everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way - everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want - which, translated into world terms, means economic un- derstandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants - everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear - which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor - anywhere in INTRODUCTION the world. That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb. »

From President Roosevelt's address to Congress, January 6, 1941.

Press relations: Fanny El Hajel Kaïd / 02 31 06 06 47 / [email protected] 4 4 JUNE TO 27 OCTOBER 2019

In cooperation with the Norman Rockwell Joël Bruneau, recalled the many collabora- Museum in Stockbridge, , tions of the Caen Memorial with American the Caen Memorial is presenting this ex- museums and said: “In his famous speech ceptional exhibition for five months. Before of January 1941, President Roosevelt gave being shown at Caen, the exhibition was a vision of a free world that was rid of to- on view at the New York Historical Socie- talitarianism. Unfortunately his speech re- ty, the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, mains relevant today. So do the paintings Michigan, and the George Washington of Norman Rockwell”. University Museum in Washington, D.C. In order to host this exhibition in perfect After travelling to Caen, it will be shown at conditions of preservation and security, the the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and Caen Memorial and the City of Caen have then, at the . undertaken significant renovations. The Its presence in France is a major Franco- 15,000-square-foot temporary exhibition American cultural event of 2019. area will now meet international standards for exhibitions of this significance. During the opening of the exhibition in New York on May 23, 2018, the Mayor of Caen and President of the Memorial,

The Caen Mémorial - Landings and Battle of Normandy Room. AT THE CAEN MÉMORIAL MUSEUM MÉMORIAL CAEN THE AT ROCKWELL NORMAN

Press relations: Fanny El Hajel Kaïd / 02 31 06 06 47 / [email protected] 5 Norman Rockwell’s Stockbridge studio. The exhibition “Rockwell, Roosevelt, and © Norman Rockwell Museum Collection the Four Freedoms” is also the story of the modern history of America from the 1940s to the 1960s. Norman Rockwell was the famous illus- trator of the Saturday Evening Post, and would have a 47-year relationship with the magazine. In this role, he observed American society with kindness and even

OF AMERICA OF tenderness, something that would at times be held against him. Near the end of his life, in the 1960s, in the midst of a moral crisis in Ameri- Left to right: Norman Rockwell Museum President Anne Morgan, US President ca, he covered topical subjects such as Barack Obama, Ruby Bridges, and Norman Rockwell Museum Director/CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt view Rockwell’s “The Problem We All Live With,” hanging racism, the Vietnam War (represent- in a West Wing hallway near the , July 15, 2011. ed in “The Right To Know”), and war on Bridges inspired Rockwell’s illustration, and Morgan was an original Rockwell model.

A STORY A © Official Photo by Pete Souza. All rights reserved. poverty for Look magazine. His paintings would become more serious and above all more committed. One of the most im- portant paintings in the exhibition, “The Problem We All Live With,” published by Look in 1964, denounces racial seg- regation in America. It was inspired by Ruby Bridges, who was the first Afri- can-American child to integrate a white school in New Orleans. This exceptional painting, along with the dress of the little girl who was its model, will be shown in Caen. Original letters of support or

containing insults that Rockwell received Norman Rockwell’s grave in Stockbridge. at the time will also be displayed. © Daniel Fouray / Ouest-France The exhibition covers this entire period and thus provides an understanding of a story of America through the 50 works that are shown. Norman Rockwell died on November 8, 1978 in his town of Stockbridge, where he is buried alongside his family. In this small American town, far from the bustle of New York City, he lived and worked, often finding models or subjects for his paintings among his fellow citizens.

Press relations: Fanny El Hajel Kaïd / 02 31 06 06 47 / [email protected] 6 OVERVIEW

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Freedom of Speech, 1943. Oil on canvas, 45 ¾” x 35 ½”. Illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, February 20, 1943. Collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © SEPS: Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN. All rights reserved. www.curtislicensing.com Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Freedom of Worship, 1943. Oil on canvas, 46” x 35 ½”. Illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, February 27, 1943. Collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © SEPS: Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN. All rights reserved. www.curtislicensing.com Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Freedom from Want, 1943. Oil on canvas, 45 ¾” x 35 ½”. Illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, March 6, 1943. Collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © SEPS: Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN. All rights reserved. www.curtislicensing.com Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Freedom from Fear, 1943. Oil on canvas, 45 ¾” x 35 ½”. Illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, March 13, 1943. Collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © SEPS: Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN. All rights reserved. www.curtislicensing.com

Norman Rockwell and America at War FIRST SECTION OF THE EXHIBITION

EXHIBITION EXHIBITION The exhibition begins in the 1930s and “Four Freedoms,” four exceptional paint- continues into the war period. During ings inspired by President Roosevelt’s this time, Norman Rockwell worked for speech of January 6, 1941, less than a The Saturday Evening Post. year before the U.S. entered the war. The first section of the exhibition is de- This section ends with a series of paint- voted to Rockwell’s commitment to ings produced at the end of the war on supporting the American war effort. the theme of the soldier's return home Various art­works are on view, including to his family. Rockwell’s paintings always the very popular “”, a simple strove to show that the United States GI featured on the covers of the Sat- formed a solid community united around urday Evening Post, but especially the their soldiers and a democratic ideal.

Engaged in the Fight for Civil Rights SECOND SECTION OF THE EXHIBITION

“Now I have a crazy urge to paint contem- exhibition also deals with the issue of porary subjects: civil rights, anti-poverty Norman Rockwell's humanist commit- programs...” ment, which is illustrated by his artworks “Golden Rule” and “”. Norman Rockwell, 1963. The 1965 painting “Murder in Mississippi” is also on view, which is very different The year 1964 marked a turning point from the painter's other work; Norman in the artist's life. He left the Saturday Rockwell shows a lynching committed in Evening Post to work for Look magazine. Mississippi in all its horror and brutality. This section of the exhibition is organ- The exhibition ends with the artist's ized around the issue of civil rights that reflection on American society as it con- was addressed in the famous painting fronted the Vietnam War and on the “The Problem We All Live With”. The hope for peace in the Middle East.

Press relations: Fanny El Hajel Kaïd / 02 31 06 06 47 / [email protected] 7 SHOWN SHOWN

THE ARTWORKS THE Photograph of Norman Rockwell with “Freedom of Speech” painting at Four Freedoms Show, 1943. Photographer unknown. Collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © Norman Rockwell Family Agency. All rights reserved.

FOUR PAINTINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME OUT OF THE UNITED STATES

These four paintings have their own special story. During the war, Norman Rockwell, like Tex Avery, , Charlie Chaplin, Frank Capra, Ernst Lubitsch, Clark Gable, and Arthur Szyk, participated in the war effort. Thanks to these four paintings that travelled America during World War II - the “War Bond Shows” - 132 million dollars were raised. Norman Rockwell painted them - not without some difficulty - in 1943, at the height of American military involvement in Asia and soon in Europe.

Press relations: Fanny El Hajel Kaïd / 02 31 06 06 47 / [email protected] 8 SHOWN SHOWN THE FOUR FREEDOMS

Speaking of the Four Freedoms, Rockwell said: “It was a job that should have been tackled by Michelangelo”. The painter THE ARTWORKS THE devoted 7 months to producing these paintings.

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) Freedom of Speech, 1943 Oil on canvas, 45 ¾” x 35 ½”. Illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, February 20, 1943. Collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. ©SEPS: Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN. All rights reserved. www.curtislicensing.com

To illustrate this freedom, Norman Rockwell was inspired by a scene that he had recently witnessed: during a town-hall meeting, a man stood up to speak about a topic on the agenda. It was regarding the closing of a school. He did not obtain the agreement of the room, but the other citizens who were present listened to him respectfully, without interrupting him. Rockwell used one of his neighbors as a model for this man, who rep- resented freedom of speech. His leather jacket will also be on display.

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THE ARTWORKS THE

THE FOUR FREEDOMS

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) Freedom of Worship, 1943 Oil on canvas, 46” x 35 ½”. Illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, February 27, 1943. Collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. ©SEPS: Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN. All rights reserved. www.curtislicensing.com

“Freedom of Worship” represented a real challenge for Rockwell, for religion was a deeply personal subject for him. He wanted to produce a painting that would express values of unity and offer the vision of a world without religious discrimination. His original plan was for a scene in a barbershop in the country. He found this approach too stereotypical and not satisfying. So he abandoned this earlier version. The painting that we know today deals with the act of faith. The painting shows people of different beliefs in a moment of reflection, emphasizing the idea of an American community. Norman Rockwell believed that, after facial expressions, hands went a long way to communicate emotion in a painting. The painting “Freedom of Worship” is an illustration of this principle.

Press relations: Fanny El Hajel Kaïd / 02 31 06 06 47 / [email protected] 10 SHOWN SHOWN

THE ARTWORKS THE

THE FOUR FREEDOMS

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) Freedom from Want, 1943 Oil on canvas, 45 ¾” x 35 ½”. Illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, March 6, 1943. Collection of the Norman Rockwell Museum. ©SEPS: Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN. All rights reserved. www.curtislicensing.com

In this painting, a well-off family shares a Thanksgiving meal. On the left side of the table, we can see Norman Rockwell’s wife, Mary, who died in 1959, and across from her, the painter’s moth- er. The other figures are residents of Arlington whom the painter chose to complete the composition of his painting. Though an optimist by nature, Norman Rockwell did have doubts in this case. Was he right to paint such a big turkey when many in Europe were starving, invaded, or deported? While critics pointed out the over-abundance of food in this painting, they also not- ed that it emphasizes family, togetherness, and safety, and they agreed that abundance was the best response to the idea of need.

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THE ARTWORKS THE

THE FOUR FREEDOMS

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) Freedom from Fear, 1943 Oil on canvas, 45 ¾” x 35 ½”. Illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, March 13, 1943. Collection of the Norman Rockwell Museum. ©SEPS: Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN. All rights reserved. www.curtislicensing.com

This is the last painting in the “Four Freedoms” series. It was painted during the bombing of London. Notice that the father holds a newspaper with headlines about these events. The doll lying on the floor recalls the children of Europe, deprived of safety. This painting, which Rockwell did not consider an artwork of exceptional power, found a new timeliness after the attacks on the World Trade Center. At that time, print- ed “Freedom from Fear” on the front page, substituting Norman Rockwell’s headline with one referring to the attacks in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.

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Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) THE ARTWORKS THE The Problem We All Live With, 1963 Oil on canvas, 36” x 58”. Illustration for Look, January 14, 1964. Collection of The Norman Rockwell Museum.

“The Problem We All Live With” is one of Rockwell’s best-known paintings. In it, we see a little African-American girl in a white dress going to school, escorted by federal marshals whose faces cannot be seen, in order to emphasize the face of the girl. This little girl is none other than Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to integrate an all-white school in New Orleans in 1960. This painting trans- formed the classic image of Rockwell’s works. Here, the artist made a choice to depict the dramatic reality of the racism that characterized part of American society at the time. This painting marked a real turning point in the career of the artist, who was then 70 years old. From that time on, he wanted to use his art for the cause of justice.

“That day, being in the car when I turned the corner, I just assumed that I was in the middle of a parade. When I think about it today, that was the innocence of a child. I think that protected me, not knowing.” Ruby Bridges Hall

Press relations: Fanny El Hajel Kaïd / 02 31 06 06 47 / [email protected] 13 Norman Rockwell Museum Located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, the museum, built just miles away from Norman Rockwell’s studio (located in a barn that was moved to this location in 1986), is dedicated SUPPORT

to education and art appreciation inspired by the legacy of Norman Rockwell. The Museum holds the world’s largest and most significant collection of art an archival materials relating to Rockwell’s and work. Norman Rockwell’s Stockbridge studio move, 1986. Photographer unknown Norman Rockwell Museum Collection.

Caen Mémorial

EXHIBITION Every year, The Caen Mémorial museum produces and displays two to three tempo- rary exhibitions on subjects that complement its permanent exhibition on World War II and the by contributing cultural, research-related, or educational expertise. “Rockwell, Roosevelt, and the Four Freedoms” will be the first exhibition of paintings of this scope in thirty years.

Leadership support for “Rockwell, Roosevelt & the Four Freedoms” is provided by: Jay Alix, the Alix Foundation, and the George Lucas Family Foundation. National Presenting Sponsor is:

Major support provided by: An anonymous funder, Michael Bakwin, Helen Bing, Elephant Rock Foundation, Ford Foundation, Heritage Auctions, Annie and Ned Lamont, Lawrence and Marilyn Matteson, National Endowment for the Arts, and Ted Slavin. Additional Support provided by: Anthony and Susan Consigli, Ralph and Audrey Friedner, Louise Holland, Our GoFundMe Supporters Media Sponsors:

and the Norman Rockwell Family Agency.

Press relations: Fanny El Hajel Kaïd / 02 31 06 06 47 / [email protected] 14 Lenscraft Photos, Inc., photograph of unidentified woman at Four Freedoms War Bond Show, 1943. Collection of Norman Rockwell Museum. © Norman Rockwell Family Agency. All rights reserved.

4 JUNE TO 27 OCTOBER 2019 INDIVIDUAL ADMISSION: > Admission to exhibition: €10 / person > Admission to Memorial + exhibition: €24.80 / person Online reservations required at www.memorial-caen.fr

RESERVATIONS GROUP ADMISSION: > Admission to exhibition: €13 / person • By reservation only • Guided tour required • Languages: French or English Advanced reservations required Call +33 2 31 06 06 45 or email [email protected]

EXHIBITION TOUR ADMISSION AND ADMISSION

The New-York Historical Society, The Henry Ford Museum, The George Washington University New York, NY Dearborn, MI Museum and The Textile Museum, 25 May - 2 September 2018 13 October 2018 - 13 January 2019 Washington, D.C. 13 February - 29 April 2019

The Caen Memorial, Museum of Fine Arts, Normandy, France Houston, TX Location to be confirmed, 4 June - 27 October 2019 15 December 2019 - 22 March 2020 3 May - 30 August 2020

Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA Fall 2020

Press relations: Fanny El Hajel Kaïd / 02 31 06 06 47 / [email protected] 15 FOLLOW THE CAEN MEMORIAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA

MEDIA RELATIONS Esplanade Général Eisenhower CS 55026 - 14050 Caen Cedex 4 - France Tel.: +33 2 31 06 06 47 [email protected] www.memorial-caen.com

© 2019 - Le Mémorial de Caen / Imprimé par Caen Repro (14)