The famous painting depicting a husband and wife farming couple is American Gothic by Grant Wood. This iconic artwork, created in 1930, is one of the most recognizable and enduring images in American art history.
About American Gothic
American Gothic portrays a stoic, hard-bitten farming couple standing in front of a white house with a distinctive Gothic Revival window. The painting captures a sense of the American heartland and its resilient spirit, embodying themes of endurance and rural life during a challenging era.
Key Facts About the Painting:
- Artist: Grant Wood
- Year Created: 1930
- Subject: A farming couple
- Setting: A farmhouse in Eldon, Iowa
- Style: Regionalism
The Significance of American Gothic
Grant Wood's prizewinning picture, American Gothic, quickly rose to prominence and was championed as the masterpiece of a new American art movement known as Regionalism. This artistic movement, first invented and then actively promoted by an impresario and art dealer from Kansas named Maynard Walker, emphasized realistic depictions of rural and small-town American life. Regionalism offered an alternative to European modernism, focusing instead on themes and landscapes uniquely American.
American Gothic is celebrated for its intricate detail, stark realism, and symbolic depth, inviting various interpretations of the figures and their setting. It has become a powerful cultural symbol, widely parodied and referenced across different media.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Title | American Gothic |
| Artist | Grant Wood |
| Creation Year | 1930 |
| Art Movement | Regionalism |
| Cultural Impact | An iconic representation of rural American life, widely recognized and parodied. |
Where to See American Gothic
American Gothic is part of the permanent collection at the Art Institute of Chicago. It has been housed there since its acquisition shortly after its completion in 1930, drawing countless visitors who come to witness this seminal work firsthand.
