Written By: Miguel Mendez
Freedom from Want is an oil painting created by Norman Rockwell and depicted one of the Four Freedoms that President Roosevelt outlined in his 1941 State of the Union Address. The other three freedoms were: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, and freedom from fear. These paintings were created during World War II and represented what Roosevelt called the essential human freedoms. It is for this reason that the paintings portray the idealized version of the freedoms. When first released, the series of paintings were received very well in the United States but were criticized abroad. This was because it portrayed the United States as a country that had these freedoms while the other nations were suffering because of the war.
Freedom from Want embodies the identity of the American people. While they lived in trying times, having just been through the great depression and then currently in the midst of a World War, Freedom from Want provided comfort. The painting shows a family gathered together and enjoying what seems to be a thanksgiving dinner. Part of one’s identity is doing what they love and the people in the painting are clearly enjoying each other’s company. With the addition of the turkey in the painting, Rockwell presented the tradition characteristic of identity. I can think of no better example to represent the identity aspect of food in art than this painting.
Freedom from Want embodies the identity of the American people. While they lived in trying times, having just been through the great depression and then currently in the midst of a World War, Freedom from Want provided comfort. The painting shows a family gathered together and enjoying what seems to be a thanksgiving dinner. Part of one’s identity is doing what they love and the people in the painting are clearly enjoying each other’s company. With the addition of the turkey in the painting, Rockwell presented the tradition characteristic of identity. I can think of no better example to represent the identity aspect of food in art than this painting.