Describe:

Theme: Human emotions

At the Principal's Office by Norman Rockwell, 1953. Rockwell uses the light, airy colors throughout the painting to bring it together.

There are many different light hued colors but they are somewhat washed out.
There is girl on a bench and the principal with a woman in the back room.
The girl has a black eye.
There are organic, geometric, compound and complex shapes.

Analyze

Interpret

-My eye first travels to the girl on the bench, then wanders to the back office where the woman, possibly a teacher, is talking to the principal
-The color and object that brings the painting together would have to be the green wall because it is both behind the girl and in the principal's office
-The repition of geometric shapes not only frames the girl but unifies the asymmetrical composition.

The girl was most likely in a rough fight, but does not seem too worried about what her punishment would be, which is evident from her goofy grin. The teacher in the background seems disgusted, and the principal seems concerned. The half open door of the principal's office could imply some sort of secrecy between the principal and the teacher about the girl or her punishment.