Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978). Scouting is Outing, 1966. Oil on canvas. 26 x 21 inches (66.0 x 53.3 cm). Signed ...

Description

Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978)
Scouting is Outing, 1966
Oil on canvas
26 x 21 inches (66.0 x 53.3 cm)
Signed lower right: Norman / Rockwell

Property from the BSA Settlement Trust, Sold for the Benefit of Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

LITERATURE:
Boy Scouts of America Calendar, Brown & Bigelow Co., Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1968, n.p., illustrated;
T. Buechner, Norman Rockwell: Artist & Illustrator, New York, 1970, p. 606, illustrated;
T. Buechner, Norman Rockwell: A Sixty Year Retrospective, New York, 1972, p. 109;
W. Hillcourt, Norman Rockwell's World of Scouting, New York, 1977, pp. 5-6, 130, illustrated;
L.N. Moffatt, Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, Vol. I, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1986, pp. 288-89, no. A89, illustrated.

Scouting is Outing was produced for the Boy Scouts of America calendar in 1966. Continuing Rockwell's tradition of creating vibrant and detailed artworks that resonated with scouts and the general public, Scouting is Outing is a raucous and celebratory image that brilliantly captures the enthusiasm that guided the Boy Scouts of America-providing opportunities for connection, learned life-skills and the importance of community through various guided adventures. The scouts depicted in Scouting is Outing belong to Troop 52, and Rockwell paints them as they leave for an overnight hike. Rockwell's illustrations often depicted idealized scenes of the principles of Scouting, emphasizing values such as trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, and friendliness.

Rockwell understood that the primary purpose of his Brown & Bigelow calendar illustrations was to promote the values of Scouting and inspire more boys to become Scouts. He accomplished this task with Scouting is Outing as the overwhelming sentiment when viewing the work is joyful anticipation. The boys sprint down the street, identical in their appearance, and alive with a shared sense of excitement. Two distinct visual clues enhance this narrative-first, the diagonal line that is formed by the flag pole, waving the troop's signature flag, lifted proudly by a member scout; and second, another scout behind him who gestures upward with an extended hand in the same direction-these directional clues point toward the window at upper left where a young boy watches the troop spill out from the neighboring building with glee. From below and with a wave of his hand, the scout beckons to the young boy, inviting him to join the ranks-a dream that will be realized one day when he is older.

Rockwell photographed members of Troop 52 in his studio, posing them in staged vignettes, carefully choregraphed to form different arrangements and formations, as was common practice for the artist when conceptualizing each Boy Scouts calendar image. This process ensured Rockwell's most ambitious figural constructions could be as exacting in detail as possible-as evidence by the numerous archival photographs in the Norman Rockwell Museum's digital collection that were taken in careful preparation for Scouting is Outing (Fig. 1). In this photograph we can see Rockwell has arranged a group of scout models in the same procession that appears at far left of the final composition. Each figure is photographed leaning forward, almost suspended in motion, their expressions identical to how the artist would eventually paint them. Emblematic of how precise Rockwell was with capturing naturalistic detail in his paintings, the boy at far left is posed to rest his toes on top of a book-visually demonstrating for Rockwell how, anatomically, he would paint the model frozen mid-step, heel fixed to the floor and toes still raised in stride.

The 1960s saw a growing focus on health, physical fitness, and character-building, with increasing concerns over juvenile delinquency. Organizations like the Boy Scouts of America played a crucial role in promoting structured activities that instilled values of discipline, patriotism, and comradery among communities of young men. This vision is so expertly crafted in Scouting is Outing, presented in typical Rockwellian fashion.


More information about Norman Rockwell. See also: Rockwell, Norman, Rockwell, Norman Perceval Artist.

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