description American Gothic Overview
American Gothic is a 1930 oil painting by the American artist Grant Wood. It portrays a man holding a pitchfork beside a woman in front of a white wooden house in Eldon, Iowa, whose pointed window inspired the painting's title and composition. The models were Wood's dentist and his sister, posed as figures associated with the house rather than as its actual residents. Held by the Art Institute of Chicago, the work became a frequently reproduced and parodied image of rural American life.
insights Ranking position
American Gothic ranks #90 of 235 in the Artifact ranking, behind Boeing 747, ahead of Jacquard Loom.
help American Gothic FAQ
Who are the two people in American Gothic?
Grant Wood used his dentist, Dr. Byron McKeeby, as the male model and his sister Nan Wood Graham as the female model. Wood described the figures as the sort of people he imagined living in the Iowa house.
Are the figures in American Gothic husband and wife?
Many viewers interpret them as a married couple, but Grant Wood identified them as a farmer and his adult daughter. The ambiguity has helped make the 1930 painting a frequent subject of parody.
Is the house from American Gothic real?
Yes, the house stands in Eldon, Iowa, and its Gothic Revival window inspired Wood's composition. It is now associated with the American Gothic House Center.
Where is the original American Gothic displayed?
The original oil painting belongs to the Art Institute of Chicago. It entered the museum's collection after appearing in its 1930 annual exhibition.
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