Norman Rockwell’s Freedom to Worship painting is part of a series inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speech on the Four Freedoms delivered in 1941. This painting was published in The Saturday Evening Post in February 1943, along with an essay by Will Du Summary. It captures the essence of Freedom of Religion by depicting people praying and displaying their devotion to their respective gods.
Rockwell was famous for his association with The Saturday Evening Post and his artworks for the Boy Scouts of America. The Four Freedoms paintings were distributed as posters during World War II, serving as a reminder of the need to protect these freedoms.
The cover of TIME’s latest issue features a modern version of Freedom to Worship painting. This shows that even after almost eight decades since its creation, the painting still has relevance today.
Rockwell’s artwork remains an artistic representation of one of the cornerstones of democracy: freedom from religious persecution or coercion. Its message remains powerful, and it continues to inspire generations around the world – showcasing how art can impact society beyond its confines within museums and galleries.
