Event Calendar

The first comprehensive traveling exhibition devoted to Norman Rockwell's iconic depictions of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Four Freedoms: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom of Want, and Freedom of Fear. 

Rockwell, Roosevelt, & the Four Freedoms explores the indelible odyssey of humanity’s greatest ideals. 

The notion of the Four Freedoms has inspired dozens of national constitutions across the globe, yet Franklin D. Roosevelt’s declaration that the United States was willing to fight for Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear—now considered a sublime moment in rhetorical history—did not turn out to be the immediate triumph envisioned by the President. As the nation found itself sliding ever closer to direct involvement in World War II, the underlying meaning of his words captured surprisingly little attention among Americans. Following his January 6, 1941, Annual Message to Congress, government surveys showed that only half of Americans were aware of FDR’s Four Freedoms and that less than a quarter could identify them correctly. Moreover, many had no clear idea why the United States was being called upon to enter the war. 

It would take the continuous efforts of the White House, the Office of War Information, and scores of patriotic artists to give the Four Freedoms new life. Most prominent among those was Norman Rockwell, whose images became a national sensation in early 1943 when they were first published in The Saturday Evening Post. Roosevelt’s words and Rockwell’s artworks soon became inseparable in the public consciousness, with millions of reproductions publicizing the Second War Loan Drive bringing the Four Freedoms directly into American homes and workplaces. When Eleanor Roosevelt convinced United Nations delegates to include these ideals in its postwar statement of human rights, FDR’s words—now forever entwined with Rockwell’s images—achieved immortality. 

Born amid the turmoil of World War II, the Four Freedoms have since become one of its greatest legacies, a testament to the paramount importance of human rights and dignity. Brought forward by one of America’s greatest presidents and immortalized by one of its most beloved artists more than seventy-five years ago, the Four Freedoms continue to inspire, resonating across generations as strongly today as they did in their time. 

CO-PRESENTING MAY 25, 2018 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2018: 
ROOSEVELT HOUSE (REIMAGINING THE FOUR FREEDOMS) 

OCTOBER 13, 2018 - JANUARY 13, 2019: 
THE HENRY FORD MUSEUM 
20900 Oakwood Blvd. 
DEARBORN, MI 


FEBRUARY 9, 2019 - MAY 6, 2019: 
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MUSEUM AND THE TEXTILE MUSEUM 
701 21st Street, NW 
WASHINGTON, DC 


JUNE 4, 2019 - OCTOBER 27, 2019: 
Le Mémorial de Caen 
Esplanade Général Eisenhower 
CS 55026 
14050 Caen Cedex 4 
CAEN, FRANCE 


DECEMBER 15, 2019 - MARCH 22, 2020: 
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON 
1001 Bissonnet 
HOUSTON, TEXAS 


FALL 2020: 
NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM 
9 Glendale Rd / Rte 183 
STOCKBRIDGE, MA 


The New-York Historical Society 
170 Central Park West 
at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street)

New York, NY

Today only about 200 complete sets of The Birds of America exist. The Museum’s set, bound in four leather portfolios, was acquired by the State of North Carolina in 1848 and kept for more than a century at the State Library before being transferred to the Museum. The hand-colored engravings were recently conserved and rebound. In the new Audubon Gallery, the NCMA presents Audubon’s work in special cases designed for each of the enormous “double elephant” volumes, with hydraulic lifts that allow staff access so that the pages can be turned periodically to display a new selection of birds. 

Tue – Thu 10am – 5pm 
Fri 10am – 9pm 
Sat & Sun 10am – 5pm 
Closed Mondays & some holidays 

NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART 
2110 Blue Ridge Road

Raleigh, NC

Welcome to the world of comic art, where a wide variety of visual and narrative storytelling styles have evolved from panels in early newspapers to contemporary comic images. Through unique original drawings and printed pages, this exhibition features the artistic skills of master artists and emerging talents who have created some of the most famous, funny, and frightening characters to appear in print.

One early comic figure, the Yellow Kid, debuted in a full-size panel in the color pages of the New York World newspaper in 1895 and sparked the rise of comics as a popular new American art form. By the mid-1900s, in addition to the growing number of mainstream comic creators, diverse independent artists were creating comic art that examined their own life stories and commented on culture and politics. These innovators and change makers expanded the art form to include mini comics, graphic novels, fanzines, and web comics.

The lively visual content, dramatic narrative, and strong character development found in comics have attracted devoted audiences who follow the latest installment in whatever format the story appears. Over time, comic art and its characters have permeated film, television, books, and marketing—making characters familiar to viewers who may or may not read comics themselves.

Mon - Sat 8:30am – 4:30pm
Sunday: Closed

Graphic Arts Galleries, Ground Floor
Libray of Congress
Thomas Jefferson Building
10 First Street, SE

Washington, DC

A new exhibition for Anne Brontë's bicentenary

Anne’s life and work have had much less exploration than those of her sisters. This new exhibition will delve into key elements of Anne’s life, from her childhood at the Parsonage, to how her legacy has been shaped by others since her death.

April to October: 10am - 5.30pm
November to March: 10am - 5pm
New Year's Day: 12 noon - 5pm

Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Tickets are valid for 12 months from date of issue.

Brontë Parsonage Museum
Church Street
Haworth
Keighley

West Yorkshire, UK

Manjiro’s epic tale begins in 1841, when, as a teenager, he left his tiny Japanese village on a fishing trip. A violent storm left him shipwrecked and set the course that would lead Manjiro to become the first Japanese person to live in the United States. In partnership with the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia’s JapanPhilly2020 initiative, The Rosenbach will present a special exhibition on Manjiro’s legendary life, featuring holdings from our collection along with partner loans. Highlights include Manjiro’s own illustrated manuscript depicting his world travels, rare letters between Manjiro and the captain who rescued him at sea, and much more.

Mon CLOSED
Tue  - Thu Noon — 8pm
Fri Noon — 5pm
Sat & Sun Noon — 6pm

Adults: $10.00
Seniors (ages 65 & older): $8.00
Students & Children: $5.00
Children under 12: Free
Rosenbach Members: Free!
Members of AAM,ICOM, & the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Program: Free

RELATED PROGRAMS:
Poke Workshop: Free Library of Philadelphia’s Culinary Literacy Center on April 20th

The Arts of the Brush: Japanese Calligraphy and Ink Painting at The Rosenbach on April 25th

Origami Hands-on Workshop: Masu Book Box and Storage Box at The Rosenbach on May 6th

The Rosenbach
2008-2010 Delancey Place

Philadelphia, PA