If Mother Could Only See Me Now by Norman Rockwell

June 13, 1918 Issue of Life Magazine

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If Mother Could Only See Me Now, this Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of Life Magazine published June 13, 1918.

An alternate title for this illustration is Soldier Mending Socks.

This was the eighth cover by Rockwell to appear on Life Magazine. A Rockwell cover illustration appeared on Life magazine a total of ten times in 1918 and twenty-eight times in all.

If Mother Could Only See Me Now

In this illustration, Norman Rockwell gives us a glimpse into the camp life of a soldier during the First World War.

This soldier and his dog are relaxing by the campfire. Well, not exactly relaxing. The soldier is mending one of his socks. Though this activity is no doubt mentally relaxing for the soldier, it is still work.

While he is doing his mending, he is enjoying a pipe of tobacco, or maybe some substitute since it is wartime.

His teapot is beginning to boil. When he takes a break from his sewing, he will be able to enjoy some nice hot tea.

In the shadow to our right, we can see the dog. He is wearing the soldier's hat. Surely this was not the dog's idea.

I do not believe this is the same soldier from the May 30, 1918 cover of Life magazine. Even though the light in the picture is different, the soldier's hair color appears different.

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Norman Rockwell's If Mother Could Only See Me Now (1918) Copyright © 1918 Life Magazine

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