The Dugout
Painting on canvas in a wooden frame • Norman Rockwell
Style & Movement
American Illustration / Realism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, traditional illustrative brushwork with detailed figurative rendering
Creation Period
1948
Dimensions & Format
Large horizontal format painting, approximately 35 x 45 inches
Subject Description
A group of Chicago Cubs baseball players sitting and standing in the dugout, looking dejected or anxious, while passionate fans watch from the stands above.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent, well-maintained museum-quality presentation
Estimated Market Value
Museum collection holding, valued in tens of millions if traded privately
Auction Estimate
Estimated between $15,000,000 to $25,000,000 based on major Rockwell masterwork sales
Provenance History
Art Institute of Chicago collection, passing through major American museum holdings and Rockwell estate exhibitions
Art Historical Significance
A quintessential Norman Rockwell masterpiece capturing the psychological tension of American baseball and fan culture, highly celebrated in his mid-century catalog
Notable Features
Features the Chicago Cubs uniforms, expressive character studies of disappointed players, and the signature of Norman Rockwell in the lower right
Condition Issues
No major visible damage, stable paint layer, standard museum conservation maintenance
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable temperature and humidity control, UV-filtered museum glass protection, and secure wooden framing
Collector Notes
Art institute of Chicago. The Dugout.