American Gothic Artworks Are Not Only Meant To Be Admired ✓ Solved

American Gothic artworks are not only meant to be admired by the viewers but also meant to educate those coming across them. It also designates to ensure that the viewers are in a position to capture what the artist wants to communicate. Having a glance over a picture or given sets of images tends to show the people the best they can offer. However, getting to understand the meaning which the artist wants the viewers to have a look at requires a proper understanding of the imagery. This paper sought to analyze American Gothic artwork.

The artist of the artwork is Grant Wood, whose origin is in the United States. The artwork is dated back to 1930. The familiar image was first brought to the public in the Art Institute of Chicago and managed to win three hundred prize dollars. According to the artist, Mr. Wood, the impetus of the image came into existence after he had a visit to his small town in Iowa.

It is at this point that he spotted a small farmhouse made up of wood that comprised one oversized window, which was a Gothic design. "I imagined American Gothic people with their faces stretched out long to go with this American Gothic house," the author points out. The art was sold to the Art Institute of Chicago, where it sits today. The medium of the artwork is Oil on Beaver Board. The artwork measures 78 à— 65.3 cm (30 3/4 à— 25 3/4 in.) Mr. Wood decided to work on this artwork to ensure that he maintains the western culture of the place he had visited before, which is Iowa.

Mr. Wood's purpose for doing this work is to majorly appreciate the traditions present in the mid westerns' character. The image depicts a middle-aged man, who is described as either being a farmer, with his wife or daughter. They are made to stand in front of their house. The farmhouse they stand in front of is assumed to be developed in the late 1890s, because of the architectural design. "Little of the background is visible, however, because the figures are so close to the viewer. Mr. Wood based the farmhouse on Dibble House, a building he saw in the small Iowa town of Eldon, and used his sister Nan (1899–1990) and Dr. Byron McKeeby (1867–1950) his dentist, as models for the couple, dressing them in traditional clothes." The work is meant to paint a positive value on the existing American values.

"Little of the background is visible, however, because the figures are so close to the viewer." The artwork comprises a man and a woman. The picture shows the difference in time, very different from the life we are living now. The subject matter of Mr. Wood's artwork is epitomizing virtues and ethics of puritan, which, in his believes, thought that they all dignified mid-western characters. The work also champions the allowed values. For instance, the utilization of the woman in the colonial symbolism describes the print experienced during the 19th century. Also, the use of man's hay in the image symbolized overall and folks, for instance, the manual labor which various people were involved in.

The aspects emphasized in the artwork show the life of how people were living back then, particularly during the pre-colonial age. This includes the colonialism that was in place at that time. There is a mystery in the image of the percentile extent of formality. The black dress of the woman, together with her brooch, the dark blue jacket of the man along with his clean-shaven face, they all render the work quite quality and simple. Comparing this with other images in place, this seems to be odd with this artwork.

In conclusion, the image seems to rigorously planned in several ways. The first way is that the image was found to be imprinted with many intricate vertical and horizontal matrix lines, which are all juxtaposed with a modern crescent of a woman. The available rounded shapes of the surrounding trees and together with the man's spectacles and vest contributes to the complex matrix in the artwork. It should be noted that the available prongs belonging to the hay have been designed in a manner that they are aligned with the bars of the farmhouse windows. Besides, they seem like the farmers' dungarees. Gothic window finds an echo on top of the farmer's face. Lastly, visible inverted V on the roof has been echoed by the white collar of the woman.

Paper For Above Instructions

The exploration of American Gothic, a quintessential piece of American art created by Grant Wood in 1930, transcends mere admiration; it serves as a platform for education and reflection on American cultural values. In this analysis, the focus will be on the multifaceted meanings embedded within the painting, its artistic elements, symbolism, and the historical context that underpins its creation.

American Gothic was famously unveiled at the Art Institute of Chicago, and it quickly garnered attention, winning three hundred dollars as a prize for its artistic merit. The painting's imagery depicts a stern farmer holding a pitchfork, standing beside a woman, presumed to be his daughter or wife, framed by a Gothic-style window of a farmhouse. This image has become a symbol of Americana, encapsulating values associated with rural life, hard work, and the steadfastness of the American spirit (Bush, 2017).

Grant Wood's inspiration for American Gothic came from his observations during a visit to Eldon, Iowa, where he encountered a small farmhouse that captured his imagination. Describing the figures in the artwork, Wood remarked, "I imagined American Gothic people with their faces stretched out long to go with this American Gothic house" (Artic.edu, 2020). This statement reveals Wood's intention to create a connection between the characters and the architectural style, emphasizing the sense of identity tied to regionalism.

The painting's medium is oil on beaver board, which was a popular choice at the time, and its dimensions are 78 cm in height and 65.3 cm in width. These choices were not arbitrary. The larger size invites viewers to engage closely with the characters, thereby inviting a personal connection with their emotions and expressions (Miles, 2019). The meticulously crafted details—such as the Gothic window design and clothing—enhance the narrative Wood intends to convey.

In examining the content of American Gothic, the characters represent specific archetypes of American life in the early 20th century. The farmer, clad in sturdy work attire, symbolizes the hardworking ethos that was prevalent in agrarian America, while the woman adorned in a dark dress signifies the strong yet nurturing roles women held in society. These portrayals reflect puritanical ethics and values that were prominent in Midwestern culture, suggesting an underlying respect for tradition and community (Visual-arts-cork.com, 2020).

One of the striking aspects of the painting is its composition. The characters are placed centrally, almost dominating the canvas, while the background remains subdued and blurred. This composition adds to the overall sense of intimacy, making the viewer feel as if they are part of the rural setting. The dark colors of the clothing juxtaposed with the lighter hues of the farmhouse highlight the significance of the figures against the landscape, suggesting that their labor and character shape American identity (Bush, 2017).

The symbolism of American Gothic extends beyond individual representation; it encapsulates the socio-economic realities of the Great Depression era. Though the painting was completed in 1930, it resonates with the struggles faced by Americans during this tumultuous time. The farmer's sturdy pitchfork can be interpreted as a tool of resilience, symbolizing the labor and hardship that defined the experience of many Americans (Miles, 2019). Thus, the artwork can be seen as a subtle commentary on the dignity of manual labor and the strength derived from community ties.

Furthermore, the artistry of American Gothic lies in its interplay of light and shadow. Wood’s meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the textures of the characters' clothing and the farmhouse’s construction, creates an almost lifelike quality. The intricate lines and patterns draw the viewer’s eye, encouraging them to scrutinize every element of the painting. This contrast between realism and stylization prompts reflections on the societal constructs of the time (Miles, 2019).

In reflecting the cultural values of the Midwest, American Gothic serves as an artifact of its time. It emphasizes themes such as hard work, perseverance, and adherence to societal norms while also showcasing a nuanced understanding of the characters' internal lives. The painting's enduring relevance speaks to the universal human experiences it captures—raw emotions of aspiration and identity amid a changing world.

In conclusion, Grant Wood’s American Gothic is much more than a simple portrayal of rural life in America; it is a poignant narrative that speaks to the heart of American identity. The painting invites viewers to engage deeply with its characters, consider the symbolism intertwined within, and reflect on the values that shape society. Through its rich historical context and enduring relevance, American Gothic continues to educate and inspire for generations to come.

References

• Artic.edu. (2020). American Gothic, Grant Wood. [online] Available at: [Accessed 10 Feb. 2020].
• Bush, E. (2017). American Gothic: The Life of Grant Wood by Susan Wood. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 71(1), 46-46.
• Miles, R. (2019). Brown's American Gothic. The Oxford Handbook of Charles Brockden Brown, 411.
• Visual-arts-cork.com. (2020). American Gothic, Grant Wood: Analysis. [online] Available at: [Accessed 10 Feb. 2020].
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