Grant Wood's American Gothic And The Great Depression

Allee McIntyre – Art 2210 – MW 2pm

American Gothic and The Great Depression

American Gothic is a painting by American artist Grant Wood in 1930. Shown in the painting is what appears to be a farmer and his spinster daughter in front of their house. However, the models for the painting were Grant Wood’s sister, Nan, wearing a colonial print apron mimicking the 19th century Americana style, and Wood’s dentist, Doctor Byron McKeeby from the state of Iowa. Wood painted the house along with the people he imagined might live there. The house is actually a real place that exists in Eldon, Iowa. It was built in the American Gothic style. The interesting thing about this artwork is that the models were never painted together or in front of the house, each element was painted individually. Although the history behind the making of the painting is extremely fascinating, the symbolism for what the art represents is what sparks the

During the era of the Great Depression, on one, rather smaller, side were those who believed the painting was a celebration of the true "American" values. On the larger side were those who saw it as a mocking critique of the poor, hard-working, rural residents and their values. The pair 's dour expressions led many outside the Midwest to believe that Wood, a self-proclaimed Regionalist, was poking fun at rural life. The truth behind what Wood intended, is to be a positive statement about rural American values, an image of encouragement at a time of great adversity and disenchantment. The couple, in what is portrayed as a solid and well-crafted world, with all their strengths and weaknesses, represents survivors of all things to come. As the 1930 's unfolded and the Depression deepened, views of 'American Gothic shifted towards a more darker perspective. It had seemed that irony gave way to