From the artist's life
The stern pair in American Gothic were modelled by Wood's sister and his dentist — and they are father and daughter, not husband and wife.
Source: Wikipedia / WikimediaAmerican Realism
Grant Wood
Grant Wood (1891–1942) was a leading American Regionalist, celebrating the rural Midwest in crisp, stylised detail. His American Gothic is one of the most parodied images in American culture.
Wood helped define a homegrown American art, independent of European modernism.
- Painted American Gothic, an icon endlessly parodied ever since.
- Championed Regionalism, celebrating the rural American Midwest.
- Modelled his famous couple on his sister and his dentist.
Key works
Where to start
Complete list of key works
Works with a dedicated ArtAtlas page are highlighted in gold.
- American GothicOn ArtAtlas
- The Midnight Ride of Paul RevereListed for reference
- Daughters of RevolutionListed for reference
- Arnold Comes of AgeListed for reference
- Woman with PlantsListed for reference
- Sentimental BalladListed for reference
- Fall PlowingListed for reference
- Death on the Ridge RoadListed for reference
- Stone City, Iowa (painting)Listed for reference
- Parson Weems's FableListed for reference
1930
American Gothic
American Gothic is a 1930 oil painting on beaverboard by the American Regionalist artist Grant Wood, depicting a Midwestern farmer and his wife or daughter standing in front of their Carpenter Gothic style home. It is one of the most famous American paintings of the 20th century and is frequently referenced in popular culture.