Norman Rockwell could easily be called the most popular and well-known American artist of all time. Born on February 3, 1894 in New York City, he attended New York Art Students League founded in 1875 in part by one of his major influences, Howard Pyle. He began his full-time career as an illustrator at the age of 18, and never imagined the pinnacle his art would reach, both as an illustrator, and as an artist. At 19, he was the art director for Boy's Life, and had already illustrated his first book. His illustrations were featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post beginning when Rockwell was 22 for a continuous 47 years (totaling 322 illustrations) and to a captive audience of an average 4 million viewers. The exposure he enjoyed was unprecedented, and it allowed for his illustrations to reach the hearts of the American people. Over the decades with The Saturday Evening Post, Rockwell covered everything American from its people of all ages, holidays, wars, presidents, and events that reflected, epitomized, and defined American culture. Other magazine cover illustrations included periodicals such as Life, Ladies' Home Journal, Look magazine, McCall's, Country Gentleman, and the Literary Digest. The 1970s proved career altering for Rockwell. Thomas Buechner wrote the first major fine art book about him titled Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator, published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., in 1970, and exhibitions were held shortly after when he really began to be considered an artist in his own right. The exhibition goers broke attendance records.

Rockwell then began making lithographs with Circle Gallery, and by the third year, editions were selling out as quickly as they were published. Later, he created works for other publishers and developed a larger international market for his prints, paintings, drawings, and collectibles. Today the phrase "Like a Norman Rockwell painting" summarizes the far reaching influence he achieved portraying American culture.

Rockwell is the recipient of the highest American honor a civilian can receive from the government: the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his "vivid and affectionate portraits of our country."