The artwork entitled “Shrine Quartet,” created by Grant Wood in 1939, is a lithograph that is a prime example of the Regionalism art movement. As a genre painting from the United States, it addresses everyday life and culture specific to a region.
The artwork portrays a quartet of four male figures, presumably Shriners, each wearing a fez cap marked with a crescent moon and star, which is characteristic of this fraternal organization. They are captured mid-performance, evoking the image of a barbershop quartet, with one figure appearing to sing with particular gusto while others are either in a state of opening their mouths to sing or closing their eyes as if in deep concentration or emotional involvement. The figures are layered against a dark backdrop that contrasts with the bright fezzes, focusing attention on their expressions and the action of their performance. Behind the singers, simplistic geometric shapes suggest a simplified and stylized landscape or perhaps set design, further emphasizing the theatrical or ceremonial nature of their activity. The choice of lithography as the medium allows for crisp details in the figures’ expressions, which are central to the narrative of the artwork. The composition reflects Wood’s interest in depicting scenes from American life with a touch of stylization and satire characteristic of Regionalist principles.
