Norman Rockwell works on display in Beijing

American illustrator Norman Rockwell's works are on display at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Photo provided to China Daily

American illustrator Norman Rockwell's works are on display at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Norman Rockwell's America, which kicked off on Dec 15, is jointly organized by the American embassy and Beijing Foreign Studies University, and will run at the exhibition space in the university's library for a month.

Twenty-four artworks drawn from the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum capture a mixture of heartwarming scenes of American life and serious social and political subjects, including such well-known images as Triple Self-Portrait (1960), The Runaway (1958) and Four Freedoms series (1942),

"Norman Rockwell took on some serious subjects and also has a good sense of humor," said Thomas Hodges, the American embassy's minister counselor for public affairs. "Any aspects of American life and culture will become clear to the Chinese audience through the exhibition."

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) is hailed by many as a visual storyteller who captured the spirit and aspirations of a nation and sketched the zeitgeist of middle-class America.

Rockwell's unique artistic legacy, established during 65 years of painting, offers a personal chronicle of 20th century life and aspirations that has both reflected and profoundly influenced American perceptions and ideals.

"It offers a vivid view of American culture and will help deepen the understanding of American history," said Yan Guohua, vice-president of Beijing Foreign Studies University. "The exhibition is one of our collaborations with the American embassy."

Hodges said "as the university is so important in terms of the training of people who graduate and go on to play a role in foreign relations in China, the embassy is happy to do anything help build mutual understandings, especially on the campus of this university".

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