Norman Rockwell was an American painter and illustrator beloved for his portrayals of American culture. Rockwell left high school at 16 to study art and met with success early on. At 22, he painted his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post, the first of 321 covers he would paint for the magazine over the next 47 years. His collaboration with the Post, which he called the “greatest show window in America,” contributed to his widespread popularity as America’s most cherished artist.

Rockwell’s works reflect American life and culture, often in an idealized fashion. When he was 67, Rockwell ended his long association with the Post to paint for Look magazine. While his rosy scenes still elicit criticism from the art world that he lacked artistic merit and genuine social observation, in Look Rockwell expressed some of his deepest societal concerns and personal interests.

Rockwell died at 84 years old. A year before his death, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor.