Proof: Norman Rockwell and Photography, a lecture by Russell Lord

Throughout the twentieth century, artists employed photography in the service of creating images in other media. Sometimes photographs provided a starting point for a visual idea, other times the photograph was a model for the final work. For Rockwell, however, the photograph (or more accurately, photographs) seemed to serve an even higher purpose. Time after time, Rockwell composed pictures comprised of a variety of elements, each of which was diligently photographed. The end result is a masterfully painted compilation of elements that, thanks to photographic evidence, existed in real life. It could be said, therefore, that nothing in a Rockwell painting was invented, except of course, for the entire painting itself. This talk will explore the way that Rockwell’s dedication to photography resulted in a body of paintings that, although often fictitious on the whole, are intimately connected to the real world. Russell Lord is the Chief of Curatorial Affairs at Norman Rockwell Museum. An art historian, curator, educator, and writer with a career spanning almost three decades and work experience in six museums, Lord previously served as Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Initiatives at the American Federation of Arts, and as the Freeman Family Curator of Photographs, Prints and Drawings at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). His deepest area of expertise is the history of photography, but Lord has written and lectured widely on a variety of topics. He has written or edited more than a dozen publications, including Willie Birch: Stories to Tell (2026), Looking Again: Photography at the New Orleans Museum of Art (2018), and Gordon Parks: The Making of an Argument (2013). Exhibitions include: Reinventing Nature (2015); and Something in the Way: A Brief History of Photography and Obstruction (2016-2017). Much of his research focuses on visual literacy and the relationships between different visual media. Free for Members or with Museum admission. Registration recommended. Livestream option available. Register for In-person: HERE. Register for Virtual: HERE.