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Learn MoreTender Years: Moth Holes by Norman Rockwell
- This beloved composition hails from Rockwell's acclaimed Four Seasons calendar series
- The artist masterfully celebrates the charms and comforts of maturity
- Rockwell's meticulous attention to detail transforms an ordinary moment into a profound narrative
- The work exemplifies the technical virtuosity that earned Rockwell the Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Get complete item description here
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1894-1978 | American
Tender Years: Moth Holes
Signed "Norman Rockwell" (lower right)
Oil on canvas
From Norman Rockwell's acclaimed Four Seasons calendar series for Brown & Bigelow, Tender Years: Moth Holes represents the artist's masterful exploration of mature American relationships and his unparalleled ability to transform ordinary domestic moments into profound artistic narratives. This 1957 painting displays Rockwell's sentimental commitment to celebrating the "charms and comforts of maturity" during an. . .
1894-1978 | American
Tender Years: Moth Holes
Signed "Norman Rockwell" (lower right)
Oil on canvas
From Norman Rockwell's acclaimed Four Seasons calendar series for Brown & Bigelow, Tender Years: Moth Holes represents the artist's masterful exploration of mature American relationships and his unparalleled ability to transform ordinary domestic moments into profound artistic narratives. This 1957 painting displays Rockwell's sentimental commitment to celebrating the "charms and comforts of maturity" during an era obsessed with youth.
The composition presents a couple discovering the unfortunate fate of their stored seasonal clothing, with the husband displaying his moth-riddled red long underwear while his wife examines the damage with resigned familiarity. Rockwell's meticulous attention to detail manifests in every element: the weathered wooden trunk with its brass fittings, the scattered moths dancing above the scene, the couple's expressive faces and the comfortable acceptance that comes with decades of shared domestic trials. The careful rendering of textures—from the soft wool of the sweaters to the worn leather of the trunk—demonstrates Rockwell's technical virtuosity at every turn.
Norman Rockwell stands as America's most beloved illustrator, whose work transcended commercial art to become a defining visual narrative of 20th-century American life. His Brown & Bigelow calendar series (1948-1964) ranks alongside his Saturday Evening Post covers as works that elevated him from celebrated illustrator to national institution. Rockwell's extraordinary ability to find profound meaning in everyday moments earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, the highest civilian honor bestowed upon American citizens. His art, characterized by meticulous detail and emotional depth, captures the essence of the American spirit with an authenticity that continues to resonate across generations. Museums worldwide, including the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, preserve and celebrate his legacy as an artist who documented American values, aspirations and the tender moments that unite us all.
Painted 1957
Canvas: 17 1/2" high x 17 1/2" wide (44.45 x 44.45 cm)
Frame: 26 1/8" high x 26 1/8" wide (66.36 x 66.36 cm)
Provenance:
Judy Goffman Fine Art, New York
Illustration House, New York
Private collection, Florida
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Literature:
Laurie Norton Moffatt, Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, vol. I, Stockbridge, 1986, no. A151, p. 353, illustrated in color

| Maker: | Rockwell, Norman |
| Period: | 1919-Present |
| Origin: | America |
| Type: | Paintings |
| Style: | Illustration |
| Depth: | 3.25 in. (8.26 cm) |
| Width: | 26.13 in. (66.36 cm) |
| Height: | 26.13 in. (66.36 cm) |
| Canvas Width: | 17.500 in. (44.45 cm) |
| Canvas Height: | 17.500 in. (44.45 cm) |
At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
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