Boys Smoking by Norman Rockwell

May 8, 1920 Issue of The Country Gentleman

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Boys Smoking, this Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Country Gentleman published May 8, 1920.

The alternate title, which appeared on the magazine, was -- But Wait Till Next Week !. The editors of the magazine gave the painting the title on the magazine.

This illustration was the nineteenth Country Gentleman cover by Norman Rockwell. Rockwell painted a total thirty-five covers for The Country Gentleman starting in August 1917, the first Cousin Reginald cover, and continuing through April 1922.

This was also the first installment of a two parter -continued next week- cover series. Click here for the second installment - Retribution.

Boys Smoking

In this painting, Norman Rockwell, ever the master of painting children in humorous situations, gives us one of his all-time best. He has explored children smoking in other illustrations, but this 2-parter ranks as the best.

Here we are privy to what goes on when 2 boys get together with tobacco the first time.

These two boys are leaning against the back wall of a red barn. They are hiding because they are not supposed to be smoking. Smoking is an activity for adults, not children.

The boys look quite full of themselves. One is blowing smoke upwards. He is watching the smoke and admiring the different shapes it is making as it rises.

The other boy is holding his pipe close in his mouth. His hat is cocked slyly over one eye. He is watching the other boy with his other eye. He is grinning widely.

Their handkerchief full of tobacco lies on the ground between them.

One boy's little dog is peering around a loose board on the side of the barn. He has a suprised and worried look in his eyes.

We will find out next week how it turns out .

Little Boy Writing Letter	The Novice Skater	The Departing Maid
Boy With Dog in Picnic Basket	Boy Sending Dog Home	Trio in Early Motorcar
Cave of the Winds	Man and Woman Seated Back to Back	Grandfather Frightened by Jack-O-Lantern
Santa and Expense Book

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Norman Rockwell's Boys Smoking (1920) Copyright © 1920 The Country Gentleman and Curtis Publishing Company

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