“Checkup”

THERE ARE FEW ASPECTS OF GROWING up that Norman Rockwell has not painted at one time or another. The prestige of losing a tooth was something he captured convincingly in this 1957 Post cover. The girl in the center of the composition may have already experienced the ecstasy that her friend is now enjoying, but the other observer, off to the left, is the picture of envy. She cannot wait to acquire the same badge of maturity.

Since a detailed setting would have done nothing to add to the effectiveness of this subject, Rockwell simply places the three figures against a neutral background. This does not mean, however, that he fails to pay attention to naturalistic details. In fact, details become all the more important in so simple a composition. His concern with naturalism can be seen by looking closely at the girls shoes. Each girl is wearing sneakers, but each pair is laced in a different way.