“American Gothic,” painted by Grant Wood in 1930 using oil on board, is a seminal work of the Regionalism art movement. The artwork, a portrait with dimensions of 62.4 by 74.3 cm, is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
The artwork features a stern-looking man and woman set against the backdrop of a Gothic-style house with a distinctive arched window, which echoes the rigidity and simplicity of the subjects’ expressions and posture. The male figure, positioned on the right, grips a pitchfork, symbolizing traditional agrarian values. He is attired in denim overalls beneath a dark jacket, emphasizing practicality over fashion. The female figure, on the left, wears a somber dress, adorned with a cameo brooch, suggesting modest propriety. The background, with its meticulously detailed house and foliage, further accentuates the midwestern American setting, encapsulating the spirit of rural America in the early 20th century.
