Norman Rockwell, known for his talent in painting from photographs, transformed the image of a slender, petite young woman into a formidable icon representing the women who supported the home front during World War II. His artwork portrays her as a female machinist diligently working in a factory as part of the war effort. In the painting, Rosie stands against a backdrop of stars and stripes, clutching a sandwich in one hand while a rivet gun rests on her lap, her foot placed on a copy of Mein Kampf. First featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on May 29, 1943, this image quickly became synonymous with feminism and female empowerment.
Rockwell took creative liberties with the model’s physique—rendering her larger and more muscular than she actually was. Years later, he reached out to her with an apology for his interpretation. It’s worth noting that Rockwell’s Rosie differs from the iconic “We Can Do It!” poster, which also emerged in 1943 and features a woman in a bandana flexing her biceps. That poster recently made a humorous cameo in an episode of a popular show, where the character mistakenly thought it depicted a famous pop star.
Rockwell’s illustration played a key role in promoting war bonds, something that brought pride to the model, Patricia Keefe. “At the time, I didn’t think much about it, nor did I see myself as a symbol of the modern woman,” she shared with the Hartford Courant in 2012. Despite her humble perception, the painting has solidified its status as an enduring emblem of female strength, even 72 years later. The era of World War II marked a pivotal moment in feminist history: women flooded into the workforce, aided by state-supported child care. However, the conclusion of the war ushered many women back to domestic life, where they remained—often content but sometimes restless—until Betty Friedan reignited the women’s movement with her landmark book, The Feminine Mystique, in 1963.
In 2002, the painting fetched an impressive $4.9 million and is currently housed at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Patricia, who lost her husband in 2003, was the proud mother of four children, grandmother of 11, and great-grandmother of five.
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Summary: Norman Rockwell’s portrayal of Rosie the Riveter became a lasting symbol of female strength during World War II, capturing the essence of women in the workforce. Despite the return to traditional roles post-war, this image remains a powerful reminder of women’s contributions and empowerment.