Norman Rockwell was an American painter and illustrator. His paintings captured the American culture better than any other artist of the 20th century. His works included Rosie the Riveter, which depicted women working during the war effort, The Problem we all live with, considered an iconic image of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Four Freedoms, which were a series of four paintings, they refer to President Franklin D. Roosevelt‘s January 1941 Four Freedoms State of the Union address, in which he identified essential human rights that should be universally protected. In 1948, Rockwell painted “The Lineman”. Although Rockwell’s illustration would promote the image of AT&T, its effect was meant to be inspirational rather than commercial. In a letter to Rockwell from the ad agency, it was suggested to Rockwell that he portray the lineman on a telephone pole in the act of restoring service after a storm. “The work of the linemen for the Telephone Company,” said the account representative, “is filled with opportunities for personal sacrifices and acts which stem only from devotion to national welfare, so that it seems a fitting work to honor by such a painting.”
