1. American Gothic MuneebAlavi Mrs. Chapman 8-31-10

3. Artist Biography (Grant Wood) • Born February 13, 1891 in Anamosa, Iowa • In 1913, he attended the School of Art Institute of Chicago • In 1930, he painted American Gothic, his most famous painting • In 1932, he founded the Stone City Art Colony, where he helped artists out during the depression • On February 12, 1942, he died of liver cancer :(

4. Visual Analysis • The artist’s style resembles 15th century northern European artists • The painting shows an old man standing with his unmarried daughter on a farm • The women mimics 19th century Americana • They symbolize the traditional roles of men and women • The pitchfork the man is carrying symbolizes hard labor

5. Historical and contextual analysis • Wood asked his sister and dentist to pose to be the man and women in the painting • The painting epitomizes the Great Depression • The somber expressions on the couple’s faces suggest that their farm is closing • The picture represents life in rural America during the Great Depression

6. Significance • During the depression, this painting went on to represent endurance in hard times • The painting was painted in result to regionalism