“Lunchtime at the Grocery” by Albert W. Hampson

The grocery cart was only a three-year-old invention when this 1940 cover was painted. Invented in 1937, the “double basket” didn’t immediately catch on. People were used to carrying a woven basket, but to women the cart seemed a bit much. Older people were afraid they’d appear feeble and men wanted to appear manly, as if handling a few groceries were no big deal. The inventor of the cart, Sylvan Goldman, finally hired models of all ages and both sexes to shop, using the cart. It caught on enough by 1940, that a Saturday Evening Post cover featured the now ubiquitous baskets on wheels.

“Thoughtful Shopper” by Norman Rockwell

Before the days of the shopping cart, grocers went around the store fetching items according to your list. According to Norman Rockwell’s 1924 cover, sometimes they had to do so much more. The gentleman in this painting was J. L. Malone, who appeared in at least one other Rockwell cover. The artist appreciated Malone’s reading voice and the model sometimes read aloud for hours while Rockwell worked on an illustration such as this. The usual fare? Classic Dickens.

“Penny Candy” by Frances Tipton Hunter

No one promised the grocer an exciting career. Even the dog has fallen asleep while the children try to decide which candy to get. In 1939, a penny was a lot to a little kid. For more covers by Frances Tipton Hunter — guaranteed sweeter than penny candy — see The Art of Frances Tipton Hunter.

“Grocery Line” by Stevan Dohanos

As sure as you just want to pay a bite to eat and get on with your day, a slow-moving line looms ahead. Artist Stevan Dohanos had everything he needed in this painting except for just the right guy to portray the stalled shopper. To heck with it; the artist just went ahead with his summer vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. There he spotted a fellow vacationer in shorts and a fishing hat, yelled, “Hey, wait!” and proceeded to explain his Saturday Evening Post cover predicament. Sure, I’ll pose, the stranger said, and headed home to put on his city clothes. The man, H.R. Knickerbocker, was already known as an illustrious war correspondent, but now he was immortalized on a Post cover. The shopping carts are unique, quite different from the below cover from three years later.

“More Money, Honey” by George Hughes

This 1951 cover with the sleek metal cart looks more like today’s groceries, except perhaps for the milk bottles and the gentleman’s fedora. Oh, and the fact that she’s using a strange thing called cash rather than a credit or debit card.

“Babies and Bananas” by Stevan Dohanos

This is not an example of how a grocery store operates these days, but this 1952 cover is a fine example of why artist Stevan Dohanos is a Post favorite. Dohanos had done some farm scene murals for the grocery store and decided to use the actual grocer in a painting destined for The Saturday Evening Post. The artist just happened to have a cute baby to use for the cover — his own little tyke, Tony.

“Inn in Ogunquit” – John Falter

Post cover artist John Falter spent many vacations at this inn in Ogunquit, Maine, and we are told he painted it very true to life. The older folks have prime seats in their porch rockers for watching the parade of characters heading to the beach.

“4-H Fair” – Stevan Dohanos

It wouldn’t be summer without the 4-H fair. This 1948 scene is also set in Maine, but by another great cover artist, Stevan Dohanos. The editors informed readers it was “the Skowhegan State Fair, a time-tested Maine recreation which claims to be the oldest fair in the land. Founded in 1819, the fair has been held every year since, without a break,” even in wartime. Here’s a pop quiz: What are the 4 “Hs”? (Answer at the end.)

“On Leave” – Norman Rockwell

This is my favorite summer cover. A lot of returning WWII soldiers were happily pulling hammock duty as in Rockwell’s 1945 cover. The artist borrowed the house from one neighbor, the hammock from another, and the dog from his son. An idyllic sun-dappled day of pure relaxation—and we wish many such blissful days for our troops returning today.

“Rainy Day at Beach Rental” – Stevan Dohanos

Alas, not every summer day is sun-dappled; some are rain-drenched. Artist Dohanos had his friends pose for him with the sun shining brightly in Martha’s Vineyard. He took the painting home to Connecticut, sure that the whole summer would be sunny and bright. But “I had a marvelous break,” he said. “It rained for three days straight. I could go out any hour of the day and get rain research.” One man’s nuisance is another man’s “rain research.”

“Tan Lines” – Albert W. Hampson

The pretty lady in this 1941 cover is learning a lesson relearned summer after summer. Tan lines and party dresses don’t mix. I love the pretty details on the vanity table.

“Housepainter and Bird’s Nest” – Stevan Dohanos

This is one of those situations where you’re an artist and you hire a guy to paint your house—and the guy ends up posing for you as a house painter. You know, one of those situations. The idea of the bird’s nest was the artist’s, but the house painter confirmed he had run into the situation many times. The painter (house painter, not the cover painter) said he always tried to give the birds as much leeway as possible, carefully returning the nest to it’s proper spot. The artist, Stevan Dohanos, noted: “I found out that the overalls he was wearing had just escaped being washed the day before. That would have been tragic, because it would have made them spotless and taken away that typical bag in the seat.” Well, what do you expect from a guy who does “rain research”?