This Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries will be closed in celebration a

This Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries will be closed in celebration and remembrance of those who have served in the military.

The works you see here are by Jasper Johns and Norman Rockwell. Jasper Johns’ Three Flags (1958) and White Flag (1955) are only two of the many works by the artist that featured the American flag. Johns gave a new form to a familiar symbol that many were starting to look over, causing people to look at it with fresh eyes.

Norman Rockwell was a prominent artist during both world wars, showing his support for the armed forces through his art. The oil painting with the little girl handing the soldier a flower is titled The Tribute. This image was featured on the cover of Judge in August of 1918, shortly before World War I ended. The American Way (1944) is a World War II poster honoring disabled American veterans.

Come view more works by these artists, as well as other works about art and the military, when the reading room opens on Tuesday, May 28, at 1:00pm. These images are from:

Francis, Richard. Jasper Johns. First ed. Modern Masters Series ; v. 7. New York: Abbeville Press, 1984.

Rockwell, Norman, and Rockwell, Thomas. Norman Rockwell : My Adventures as an Illustrator. New York: Abrams, 1988.

Rockwell, Thomas. The Best of Norman Rockwell. Philadelphia, Pa.: Courage Books, 1988.

Thank you for all those who have served and those who continue to serve our country. Thank you to the artists who honor the members of our military forces with their work.