1. AMERICAN GOTHIC
By Grant Wood
J. Keller

2. Grant Wood American painter, born in Iowa 1891 -1942
Self portrait, 1932
J. Keller

3. The painting shows a farmer standing beside his daughter
The painting shows a farmer standing beside his daughter . The woman is dressed in a colonial print apron mimicking 19th century America and the couple are in the traditional roles of men and women, the man's pitchfork symbolizing hard labor
J. Keller

4. The models
Wood recruited his sister Nan ( ) to model the woman, and the man is modeled on Wood's dentist, Dr. Byron McKeeby ( ) from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
J. Keller

5. Description
Wood decided to paint the house along with "the kind of people I fancied should live in that house”.
The woman is dressed in a colonial print apron mimicking 19th century America and the couple are in the traditional roles of men and women, the man's pitchfork symbolizing hard labor.
J. Keller

6. Why is it called « gothic » ?
typical cottages of
America’s midwest
Gothic cathedrals
Just because the cottage is designed in the gothic style with an upper window in the shape of a medieval pointed arch
The cottage today
J. Keller

7. The context
This portrait was painted in 1930, around the time of the Great Depression. During this time, many farmers were evicted from their farms, leaving them no choice but to move to the city to join the rest of the unemployed trying to find work.
the middle-aged woman looks to be not as confident as the man. She looks worried and is unfocused, for she is not looking at the viewer, but rather off in the distance, hoping for a positive change to come. The man simply looks as though he refuses to leave.
J. Keller

8. Various interpretations
- a depiction of American pioneer spirit in the Depression era ?
- a satire of repression and narrow-mindedness of rural small-town life ?
- a glorification of the moral virtue of rural America ?
Anyway, it is loved for the countless interpretations and its ability to stimulate people's imaginations.
What is YOUR interpretation ?
J. Keller

9. A universally recognized icon …
American Gothic is one of the most famous paintings in American art, and one of the few images to reach the status of universally recognised cultural icon, comparable to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Edvard Munch’s The Scream
A universally recognized icon …
J. Keller

10. It was first exhibited in 1930 at theArt Institute of Chicago, where it is still located.It was given a $300 prize and made news stories country-wide, bringing Wood immediate recognition.
The Art Institute of Chicago
J. Keller

11. American gothic has been borrowed and satirised endlessly for advertisements and cartoons
Enjoy the following !
J. Keller

12. They said « gothic » ?
J. Keller

13. Just people …
J. Keller

14. politics
J. Keller

15. art
J. Keller

16. and cartoons …
J. Keller

17. A giant statue in Chicago
J. Keller

18. Whether it is a subtle message about America, the Great Depression, or any other interpretation, American Gothic is one of those paintings that will always be apart of American culture for its diverse meanings and ability to make viewers formulate their own meanings.
The end
J. Keller