Background
Russian Schoolroom was published in the October 3, 1967 edition of Look as part of a series of articles on life in the Soviet Union. Rockwell had visited School No. 39 in Moscow where he drew puppy sketches on a chalkboard 1. A reference photo of the Moscow classroom with pupils (1967), taken as a model for Rockwell’s final painting, reveals the inattentive pupil to actually be paying close attention to the teacher, with eyes front. It has been suggested that in changing this detail Rockwell slightly subverted the image to make a subtle political point in favor of non-conformity.
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