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While opinions of Rockwell vary from uncritical admiration to sneering contempt, those who love him and those who dismiss him do agree on one thing: his art embodies a distinctively American style of innocence.  

While opinions of Rockwell vary from uncritical admiration to sneering contempt, those who love him and those who dismiss him do agree on one thing: his art embodies a distinctively American style of innocence.  

In his book, Richard Halpern argues that this sense of innocence arises from our reluctance—and also Rockwell’s—to acknowledge the often disturbing dimensions of his works. Rockwell’s paintings frequently teem with perverse acts of voyeurism and desire but contrive to keep these acts invisible—or rather, hidden in plain sight, available for unacknowledged pleasure but easily denied by the viewer. <ref> Norman Rockwell: The Underside of Innocence [http://www.amazon.com/Norman-Rockwell-Underside-Richard-Halpern/dp/0226314405/ref=la_B001IXTTF0_1_3?] </ref>

In his book, Richard Halpern argues that this sense of innocence arises from our reluctance—and also Rockwell’s—to acknowledge the often disturbing dimensions of his works. Rockwell’s paintings frequently teem with perverse acts of voyeurism and desire but contrive to keep these acts invisible—or rather, hidden in plain sight, available for unacknowledged pleasure but easily denied by the viewer.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Norman-Rockwell-Underside-Richard-Halpern/dp/0226314405/ref=la_B001IXTTF0_1_3? Norman Rockwell: The Underside of Innocence]</ref>

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==External link==

==External links==

*[http://www.guggenheim.org/exhibitions/past_exhibitions/rockwell/problem_lg.html The Problem We All Live With], Guggenheim museum.

*[http://www.guggenheim.org/exhibitions/past_exhibitions/rockwell/problem_lg.html The Problem We All Live With], Guggenheim museum.