Four Scene-Setting Photos With Narrative of Norman Rockwell’s “Road Block”

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To compose his iconic oil paintings, American artist Norman Rockwell relied heavily on photography from the late 1930s onward. He … Read more To compose his iconic oil paintings, American artist Norman Rockwell relied heavily on photography from the late 1930s onward. He would rent local vehicles, hire neighbors or models, and act out or position characters in exact setups to use as direct references for his final works. This set of four photos was taken as he worked on developing his concept for his famous 1949 Saturday Evening Post cover titled "Road Block" (also known as “Bulldog Blocking Truck”).

LOCALE: The original photography for this staging shoot was done in Los Angeles, California.
Specifically, Norman Rockwell staged the scene in an alleyway located near Seventh Street and Rampart Boulevard. During the 1940s, Rockwell made several trips to Southern California. In 1949, he served as an artist-in-residence at the Otis Art Institute, then known as the Los Angeles County Art Institute.
Because he was working locally, Rockwell recruited students from the art institute to act as the models for the neighborhood bystanders featured in the final painting.
The “blocked” vehicle came from Bekins Van Lines, which was then headquartered in Los Angeles. Rockwell was easily able to source and rent a local fleet van from the company to park in the narrow L.A. alleyway for the shoot. Thanks to the included narrative, we know what’s going on in the photos.

PHOTO 1 (clockwise from top left): Norman Rockwell, wearing a hat and overcoat, and smoking a pipe, is demonstrating a pose that he wants the uniformed van driver to take. The bulldog already knows his job.

PHOTO 2: The van driver steps into position. For the final painting, the artist changed the truck color to a vibrant red and updated the license in the window to 1948.

PHOTO 3: Detail of the narrow alley and the figure leaning out the window, just as he appears in the final painting.

PHOTO 4: Rockwell’s young son, holding a violin case, stands as directed with the photographer's sister.

Combining all these elements and more, the final artwork is Rockwell's highly celebrated painting titled "Road Block," which initially appeared as the July 9, 1949 cover of The Saturday Evening Post. The painting brings the entire staged moment to life. Rockwell transformed the narrow alleyway into a vibrant, high-contrast, humorously chaotic neighborhood showdown, complete with neighbors peering from surrounding windows and balconies. A print of this final cover is available from the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Signature/Maker’s Mark: Photographer unknown. Unframed dimensions: Clockwise, photos #1, 3, 4: 7” inches high x 5 inches wide. Photo #2: 5 inches high x 4 inches wide. See less