American Gothic

American Gothic is one of the best known American paintings. It was made by artist Grant Wood in 1930. The picture shows a farmer holding a pitchfork. A woman stands next to him with a serious face. Behind them is a small white house with a pointy window.

The Story Behind It

Grant Wood painted American Gothic in Iowa. He saw a little white house with a special window shape called Gothic. It gave him the idea for the painting. The models were his sister and his dentist. They wore old-fashioned farm clothes to pose for him. The painting won a prize and made Wood famous.

Why People Love It

American Gothic shows life on an American farm long ago. The serious faces make people wonder what the two figures are thinking. Some people think it is funny, and others think it is sad. The painting has been copied and joked about many times. You can see it on posters, cartoons, and TV shows.

Fun Facts

• The house in the painting is a real house in Iowa you can still visit.
• The woman was Grant Wood's sister Nan.
• The painting is kept at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Did You Know?

The two people in the painting are meant to be a father and daughter, not a husband and wife.