American Gothic Painting

Grant Wood's 1930 painting, American Gothic, became one of the most famous portrayals of life in the Midwest during the Great Depression. Painted in the style known as Regionalism, Wood painted familiar subjects in realistic ways. Many people assume that they were husband and wife. While Wood called the twosome father and daughter, the pair were modeled after Wood's 32-year-old sister, Nan, and his dentist, 62-year-old Byron McKeeby. While Wood was traveling around the Midwest he noticed the window at the top of the white farmhouse in Eldon, Iowa. The window inspired Wood to do this painting because the shape of the window are mostly found in churches and Gothic architecture. Wood first painted the house to capture the window and added the couple in front of the house. The pitchfork symbolizes the hard working people of that region. This painting is on display at the Chicago Art Museum.