The artwork is an illustration by Norman Rockwell, created in 1911 as part of his work for “Tell-Me-Why: Stories about Mother Nature” by C.H. Claudy. While Rockwell is more widely known for his later works capturing American life, which often reflected the Regionalism art movement, this particular piece was created early in his career and served a more narrative purpose for the accompanying stories in the book.
Upon examining the artwork, one observes a tranquil natural scene dominated by a towering volcano in the midst of an eruption. Calming hues of blues and greens form the foreground where a dense forest is silhouetted against a twilight sky. The sky itself is dark, indicative of either dusk or the shadow cast by the volcanic ash. In the immediate foreground, there is a reflective body of water – a lake or river – that mirrors the scene’s soothing color palette and contributes to the overall serenity of the setting, despite the looming eruption in the background. The softly blended colors and the harmony of the scene communicate a quiet beauty to the viewer, showing Rockwell’s versatility in illustration beyond his later and more recognized works of Americana.
