Rogers and Rockwell: The Original Pop Artists

John Rogers, known as “the people’s sculptor,” was a pioneer of widely accessible art in the nineteenth century. Exploring themes ranging from the Civil War to domestic life to familiar theater and literary references, Rogers was the forerunner of populist artists of the twentieth century, especially Norman Rockwell. Three experts compare these two titans of popular art—along with other popular artists, including Andy Warhol—and discuss why their work was so resonant with the American public.