American Gothic (1930)
Grant Wood (1891-1942)
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Illinois, USA
No, they are not a real couple. As a matter of fact, none of this really happened. The woman (Wood's sister, Nan), the man (Wood's dentist, Dr. Bryon McKeeby) and the house (a small white home in Eldon, Iowa) were all painted separately and only came together by the brush of Grant Wood for American Gothic.
Hope I didn't burst anyone's bubble. If you need a moment to collect yourself, go back up and admire AR's deliciously whiskered chin until you're ready to move on.
Wood practically invented the term, "American Regionalism" with his affectionate, stylized images of the Midwest. Born in Iowa, he actually resembled the good-natured country folk in his paintings with his denim overalls and wire-rimmed glasses. After gaining popularity, he traveled the country during the Great Depression, supporting American artists and encouraging the regionalism movement.
After WWII, however, art critics suddenly seemed embarrassed by the 'quaint' imagery of regionalism. They turned to a more modern, European style; unable to look beyond Wood's appearance and see an extremely well-traveled man who had painted and exhibited in Europe and return to his roots by choice. Wood never stopped fighting for the artistic value of regionalism, and yet...a few years after painting his self-portrait, he painted a plain, dark shirt over his signature overalls. I've always wondered why.
Click to see the real American Gothic
Click image above to go to the next page, or choose a thumbnail below
to go directly to that FAMOUS ARt.
to go directly to that FAMOUS ARt.
(I always give permission, but it's still nice to ask first)