Couple Ice Skating
by Norman Rockwell

March 1920 Issue
of Red Cross

This Norman Rockwell painting, entitled Couple Ice Skating, appeared on the cover of Red Cross on the March 1920 issue.

This was the fourth and final picture by Rockwell to appear on the Red Cross cover. Red Cross only published four Rockwell illustrated covers, between 1918 and 1920.

Rockwell only submitted his paintings to this and other smaller publications after the publishers of the larger magazines had declined to publish the cover illustration.

Clearly, Rockwell's first choice of publication was The Saturday Evening Post. He believed that the Post cover was America's biggest showcase window for artists. Of course, his career confirmed this.

Couple Ice Skating

Another well-loved winter skating scene.

Rockwell lived and painted in New Rochelle, New York in 1920. Although not as cold as those of New England, the winters in New York are usually cold enough to freeze ponds, rivers and even lakes.

This couple is skating on one those frozen ponds. Judging by the background, it is fairly big pond. The red building in the background is a barn so this must be a farm pond.

We can also see one other skater on the ice already. At the edge of the ice, we see a father donning his skates and his son waiting patiently to start skating.

The focus of the painting is the young couple. They are obviously enjoying each other's company. They are holding on to each other as they are skating. They also share the fur hand muff that the matches the lady's fur scarf.

They appear to be moving at a good rate of speed. Their scarves are both blowing behind them. This must be from their speed because the scarf of the other skater is blowing in the other direction.