Norman Rockwell: Hobo and Dog
The “Roaring Twenties” was a decade of wealth and successful economy. In 1924, Norman Rockwell created Hobo and Dog. This painting satirizes the views of the 1920s. It shows of a poor man, with his dog, cooking a hot dog over a small fire, not exactly how people from the 1920s were perceived. The painting shows the in the 1920s not everyone was living the high-class life.
The man in the painting is dressed from head to toe in old, ragged, patched up clothing, his shoes that are falling apart, lacking laces, and his hat is broken. His newspaper in his pocket looks old, and he has a handkerchief bag that attaches to a stick that resembles the stereotypical hobo. Hobo and Dog shows that even the large boom from WW1 created in the economy as well as the excess of patriotism was not enough to expunge of poverty.
Not only does the man portray poverty, the dog does too. It looks run down, and homeless. One can conclude winter is approaching because how the dog lies between the mans legs, the leaf at the bottom right hand corner and the man is dressed heavily. Both the dog and the man are extremely focused on the hotdog. The hot dog is not considered a high class, or middle class food of choice. More proof as to why the man is poor.
The main focal point of the painting is the hot dogs. Not only is the dog moving in to smell the hotdog, but the mans eyes are exceedingly wide engrossed in the hot dogs. The man is in dire need of he hotdog this is obvious because of his drooping clothes. The angle of the eyes are pointed at the hotdogs, the mans hands and feet are directed at the hotdogs, and his stance opens and lines up with the hotdogs. The mans central focus is his necessities; whereas, the ‘20s are thought of as a luxurious time where people focus on extravagant items.
The finest years were considered to the “Roaring Twenties” The economy was thriving and everyone was enjoying life. Rockwell showed what was behind closed doors. He showed what majority of the people out having fun would be facing in the nearby future with the Great Depression. This painting gave a sense of foreshadowing for unsuspecting citizens.
The man in the painting is dressed from head to toe in old, ragged, patched up clothing, his shoes that are falling apart, lacking laces, and his hat is broken. His newspaper in his pocket looks old, and he has a handkerchief bag that attaches to a stick that resembles the stereotypical hobo. Hobo and Dog shows that even the large boom from WW1 created in the economy as well as the excess of patriotism was not enough to expunge of poverty.
Not only does the man portray poverty, the dog does too. It looks run down, and homeless. One can conclude winter is approaching because how the dog lies between the mans legs, the leaf at the bottom right hand corner and the man is dressed heavily. Both the dog and the man are extremely focused on the hotdog. The hot dog is not considered a high class, or middle class food of choice. More proof as to why the man is poor.
The main focal point of the painting is the hot dogs. Not only is the dog moving in to smell the hotdog, but the mans eyes are exceedingly wide engrossed in the hot dogs. The man is in dire need of he hotdog this is obvious because of his drooping clothes. The angle of the eyes are pointed at the hotdogs, the mans hands and feet are directed at the hotdogs, and his stance opens and lines up with the hotdogs. The mans central focus is his necessities; whereas, the ‘20s are thought of as a luxurious time where people focus on extravagant items.
The finest years were considered to the “Roaring Twenties” The economy was thriving and everyone was enjoying life. Rockwell showed what was behind closed doors. He showed what majority of the people out having fun would be facing in the nearby future with the Great Depression. This painting gave a sense of foreshadowing for unsuspecting citizens.