American Gothic
Grant Wood · 1930
Oil on beaverboard
Quick answer
American Gothic (1930) by Grant Wood is in Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. American Gothic is an oil painting by American artist Grant Wood, created in 1930. It depicts a man and a woman standing before a white farmhouse with a distinctive Gothic-arched window. The man holds a pitchfork. The painting's models were Wood's sister Nan Wood Graham and his dentist Dr. Byron McKeeby, though they were intended to represent an unnamed farmer and his daughter (not wife). The painting is in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago and is one of the most parodied images in American art. World Museum Guide explains what you're looking at and how to see it.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the people in American Gothic?
The models were Grant Wood's sister Nan Wood Graham (the woman) and his dentist Dr. Byron McKeeby (the man). They were not married to each other — Wood intended them to represent a farmer and his daughter, though the painting has almost universally been read as depicting a married couple. Nan Wood Graham spent much of her life correcting this misidentification. She died in 1990 at age 91.
Where is American Gothic located?
American Gothic is in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, displayed in Gallery 263. The Art Institute purchased it for $300 in 1930, and it has never left Chicago. The real house depicted in the painting is in Eldon, Iowa, and is open to visitors as a tourist attraction.
What does the pitchfork mean in American Gothic?
The pitchfork is the tool of a farmer and establishes the man's occupation. Art historians have also noted that its three tines echo the Gothic window's pointed arch in the background, creating a visual rhyme between the architectural style and the agricultural implement. Whether Wood intended this as a tribute to rural America or a subtle critique of its rigidity has been debated since 1930.
Is American Gothic a positive or negative image of America?
Both interpretations have been argued convincingly. Wood himself claimed it was a sympathetic tribute to the pioneer spirit of the American Midwest. Many Iowans initially saw it as condescending caricature. During the Great Depression it was widely read as a portrait of stoic endurance. Today it functions as an ambiguous cultural symbol — its severe expressions and rigid posture support any reading the viewer brings to it.
Why is American Gothic so often parodied?
The painting's instantly recognisable composition — two figures, one with a pitchfork, before an arched window — is simple enough to adapt in any medium. Its ambiguity about what it represents (admiration? satire?) makes it available for any message. Its association with "America" in the most generic sense makes it a perfect vehicle for political commentary, advertising, and cultural commentary of all kinds.