American Gothic was painted by Grant Wood in 1930. This painting was 78 cm by 65.3 cm and was painted using oil on beaverboard. This piece of art currently resides in the Art Institute of Chicago. Grant specialized in Regionalism, which was an American realist modern art movement. Part of this focus, was painting scenes of rural life. The most interesting part of this piece is that it combined Americana with European technique. While Wood was traveling through Cathedrals in Europe, he was able to mimic the detail as well as “rigid frontal arrangement.” Furthermore, American Gothic was the epitome of Regionalism, and because of the success, Wood was given the title of being a principal spokesman for art. At first glance, this painting includes, what looks to be a stern, older couple in front of their house, but upon further analysis, this is untrue.
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The style of this painting is called Carpenter Gothic, Wood was quoted as saying “I imagined American Gothic people with the faces stretched out long to of with this American Gothic house.” In other words, the painting features a formal, older couple with morose expressions on their faces. The woman, wearing a tight frown and furrowed brows stares off toward the left. The woman is also dressed in a colonial print apron, with an ornate brooch, with her hair in a tight bun. Behind her ear, is a loose tendril of hair. Although everything about her suggests a serious personality, this loose tendril shows a softer side to her or possibly suppressed passion. In addition, the brooch could possibly indicate her want for something bigger and better. Next to her the older gentleman is looking straight ahead with pursed lips and clutching a pitchfork. He is standing almost aggressively, with his back stick straight. His pitchfork is incredibly pointy and straight as
The style of this painting is called Carpenter Gothic, Wood was quoted as saying “I imagined American Gothic people with the faces stretched out long to of with this American Gothic house.” In other words, the painting features a formal, older couple with morose expressions on their faces. The woman, wearing a tight frown and furrowed brows stares off toward the left. The woman is also dressed in a colonial print apron, with an ornate brooch, with her hair in a tight bun. Behind her ear, is a loose tendril of hair. Although everything about her suggests a serious personality, this loose tendril shows a softer side to her or possibly suppressed passion. In addition, the brooch could possibly indicate her want for something bigger and better. Next to her the older gentleman is looking straight ahead with pursed lips and clutching a pitchfork. He is standing almost aggressively, with his back stick straight. His pitchfork is incredibly pointy and straight as