American Gothic

This painting is one of the most iconic images of American art. Grant Wood was inspired by a small Gothic Revival house in rural Iowa and imagined the kind of people who might live there. The figures, often interpreted as a farmer and his daughter, are presented with clarity and precision, reflecting Regionalism’s focus on rural American life during a time of economic hardship. The work balances realism with subtle stylization, emphasizing order, discipline, and restraint. It can be read both as a tribute to Midwestern values and as a quiet commentary on them.