Taking Mother Over The Top by Norman Rockwell

July 26, 1919 Issue of The Literary Digest

Taking Mother Over The Top, this Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Literary Digest published July 26, 1919.

An alternate title for this work is Soldier Recounting War Stories to Family.

This painting was Rockwell's eighth picture on the cover of The Literary Digest. This illustration is one of eight Rockwell artworks that The Digest featured on its cover in just 1919 alone.

Starting in 1918 with the first cover, Boy Showing Off Badges to the last, The Night Before Christmas in 1923, The Literary Digest featured Rockwell artwork on its cover a total of forty-seven times.

This painting also appears on page 50 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

The location of the original oil on canvas painting is unknown.

Taking Mother Over The Top

World War I was officially over when this painting was published. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919.

The Great War was now just a memory, though not a distant one.

This soldier has returned home. Many soldiers did not return from the war.

He is showing his mother and his sweetheart where he served during the war. His finger is pointing to Belgium. The majority of American soldiers involved in World War I fought in Belgium.

His mother and his sweetheart, thankful that their prayers for his safe return were answered, will gladly look at that map all day long.

Norman Rockwell's firm grasp on current events is evident in this picture.

Sailor Dreaming of Girlfriend	World War One Soldier Marching with Children	Courting Couple at Midnight
The Party Favor	The Valedictorian	Boys Playing Leapfrog
Boy Chasing Dog With Pants	Boy Asleep With Hoe	Man Leaving Work to Go Golfing
Boy on Stilts	Grandfather and Snowman

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