Chamberlain School of Nursing
HUMN 303N
Painting Analysis & Reflection
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, Painting Analysis & Reflection 2
During the year 1943, America was approaching the end of World War II and one of the
most historical movements for women arose through art. Norman Rockwell created an oil
painting depicting a confident, strong, mentally and physically, and hard-working woman.
Though, at the time, Rosie the Riveter was considered art it was a painting none the less. A
woman, simply eating a sandwich, dressed in a denim work jumpsuit, and holding a riveting gun
on her lap. Symbolically, an American flag freely flowing behind Rosie with her feet crushing
Hitler’s manifestation Mein Kampf. The imagery was beyond artwork in a museum or photo in a
magazine during this time.
Not only was propaganda not considered art, but the thought of women in the workforce
was unheard of. The economy could not keep up with the effects of the war and the workforce
needed women like Rosie to step forward and help support the war. Hard-working women rose to
the occasion and received no credit or respect for their efforts. The lack of validation for their
efforts, working women needed something to uplift their spirits. “Rosie the Riveter was viewed
as loyal, efficient, patriotic, compliant, and even pretty” (Santana & Cristina, 2016). Not only
was Rosie an uplifting spirit for other working women, but she became the National symbol for
those working women. The leader of their own war on home grounds became so popular from
being posted all around including in Post magazine that the magazine allowed the U.S. Treasury
Department to use their cover photo for the remainder of the war as a war bond drive (Rosie the
Riveter- Norman Rockwell Museum, 2018). More and more women joined the workforce as
plane mechanics, nurses, pilots and factory workers after the publishing of this painting.
During World War II, the jobs mentioned above were not jobs for women. Women were
only expected to be homemakers and nothing more. However, while men were being recruited
for war, these incredible women took over when America needed them the most. As women
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