Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Rockwell’s Bifocals

Norman Rockwell had a pair of bifocal glasses specially made with a vertical division in the middle of each lens. Instead of the close-up portion being below the far focus area, it was alongside it.

These glasses allowed him to shift his attention sideways from his reference to his painting, rather than bobbing his head up and down.

The actual glasses are currently on display alongside a scuffed sneaker in a glass case at the Norman Rockwell Museum.
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8 comments:

  1. Sam GJune 22, 2010 at 3:07 PM

    I don't travel too much...but one of these days (I swear) I'm going to make a trek to the Rockwell Museum. My Dad was lucky enough to go. I also want to go to the Frazetta museum. Is it re-opened yet?

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  2. Dan GurneyJune 22, 2010 at 7:24 PM

    "The real world is the ultimate hackable platform."

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  3. Mary BullockJune 22, 2010 at 7:37 PM

    What a smart man!

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  4. MiggyJune 22, 2010 at 7:40 PM

    That's some genius right there. Artists are problem-solvers.

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  5. MarianneJune 23, 2010 at 2:56 AM

    What a clever salutation with bifocal glasses!

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  6. James GurneyJune 23, 2010 at 10:08 AM

    Sam, I haven't heard of plans to reopen the Frazetta museum.

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  7. AnonymousJune 23, 2010 at 6:29 PM

    That's very cool! I love these little tidbits!

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  8. Michael Chesley Johnson, Artist / WriterJune 23, 2010 at 6:41 PM

    What a swell idea! I have the same problem - bobbing the head, and it gives me a neckache. I wonder if today's lensmakers are up to the challenge of making a vertically-divided bifocal?

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