The artwork “Rosie the Riveter” by Norman Rockwell is an iconic oil painting completed in 1943, measuring 52 by 40 inches. It is executed in the Regionalism style, portraying a genre scene, and it was once in a private collection. The painting exemplifies a distinct American era and celebrates the contributions of women to the workforce during World War II.
In the artwork, a robust woman with striking red hair sits confidently against a backdrop of the American flag, which fills the canvas with its stars and stripes. Her blue work shirt, adorned with patches and a nametag reading “Rosie,” is rolled up to her biceps, revealing her muscular arms. She wears goggles atop her head, suggesting a break from labor. Rosie’s right foot rests atop a copy of Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf,” symbolizing the defeat of fascism under the weight of American industrial and military might, driven in part by the newfound labor of women like her. The pose she strikes, consciously evoking Michelangelo’s depiction of the prophet Isaiah in the Sistine Chapel, lends a sense of heroic grandeur and determination to her character. On her lap is a riveting tool, indicating her role in the industrial workforce that powered the Allied war effort. The powerful visual message underscores the strength and significance of the American woman during a critical period of global upheaval.
