American Gothic

American Gothic is such an eerie painting; the woman looks stern almost resentful of the man beside her, who stares at us, with his wrinkle pale skin. The painting was created by artist Grant Woods whose inspiration for this piece was the house that he saw in Eldon, Iowa, a Carpenter/Gothic Revival Style. He actually used the image of his sister Nan and dentist for the farm couple.The tiny flowers in the woman's dress symbolizes for me the lost of hopes and dreams for women once being married in the early 20th century. In Woods view the flowers represent the domesticity women were forced upon women. The pitchfork is the symbol of labor, men toiling the land that is the link between life and death, since a farmer family's future depends solely on the crops. During the time he presented in to the public 1930 at the Art Institute of Chicago, I bet he didn't believe it would cause such a dramatic spark for other artist and medias.



For instance at the beginning of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the farm couple looked solemn and out of place at a happy wedding celebration; foreshadowing disaster for the main characters Brad & Janet. There was also a T.V. movie that eventually became a series called "American Gothic," though it was about the devil dwelling in a small town.


Its amazing to see that this piece has stood the test of time. Though it shows the simple farming it, the painting speaks volumes about the American society of the past and possible future. Some people have even used Wood's painting to express their opinions or use it for comedy.I wonder it I ever get a book public, would younger generations still be able to connect with my work on a personal level? What makes one a work of art thrive from generation to generation and others fade from the mind?






For more info about Grant Woods Check this website out:

www.artic.edu/artaccess/AA_Modern/pages/MOD_5.shtml

Comic Strip images by Michael Keafe.