I had an opportunity to see this painting and others by Grant Wood in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was a memorable day at the Worcester Art Museum with my daughter!
In my art classes we used to discuss her attitude…did she mind having a pitchfork so close to her face? because she was wearing her cameo, had she dressed up for the portrait? the apron brings it back down to “job description”- housekeeper….was she really a wife? or a spinster daughter to her widowed father? She might be perspiring… a tendril has escaped her hair bun from the back. I always wondered whether she had flowers planted around her porch. I can’t imagine he complimented her cooking…most likely in my imagination it was, “Thank you for supper.”
just like my farmer granddaddy as he got up from the table.
hydro geologist. I see this painting, I always think the missus is irritated with her husband…and thinking.. hurry up with this pic so I can get back to quilting.
What a surprise to see American Gothic picture. I live less than 2 miles from where he had his painting retreats. And if I look across the pasture in my back yard we can see where he painted the “Fall Plowing” picture. Some years back our surrounding community had to take up a cause to prevent a landfill to be placed in our area. We won. I made a couple quilts that were used to raise money to help to get that site on the national register.
American Gothic
11 comments
Laura P Lane
I had an opportunity to see this painting and others by Grant Wood in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was a memorable day at the Worcester Art Museum with my daughter!
Marta
In my art classes we used to discuss her attitude…did she mind having a pitchfork so close to her face? because she was wearing her cameo, had she dressed up for the portrait? the apron brings it back down to “job description”- housekeeper….was she really a wife? or a spinster daughter to her widowed father? She might be perspiring… a tendril has escaped her hair bun from the back. I always wondered whether she had flowers planted around her porch. I can’t imagine he complimented her cooking…most likely in my imagination it was, “Thank you for supper.”
just like my farmer granddaddy as he got up from the table.
Marta
For a moment I thought I was on facebook. I wanted to post Hearts on all the previous posts!!
Beth
Love how you remind me as a Chgo suburbanite to get back to the Art InstItute already
denveremerson1
Thank you for posting American Gothic. I appreciated all the history of it!
cindy clark
hydro geologist. I see this painting, I always think the missus is irritated with her husband…and thinking.. hurry up with this pic so I can get back to quilting.
Dottie Laudeman
Thanks for expanding my horizon, Lori! Enjoyed reading up on this one!
Rita S
What a surprise to see American Gothic picture. I live less than 2 miles from where he had his painting retreats. And if I look across the pasture in my back yard we can see where he painted the “Fall Plowing” picture. Some years back our surrounding community had to take up a cause to prevent a landfill to be placed in our area. We won. I made a couple quilts that were used to raise money to help to get that site on the national register.
Thanks for posting the picture.
cindy clark
Good for you! My husband’s master’s thesis dealt with leachate at a former landfill site in Texas. He went on in his career as a hydrogeologist.
Bobbie Elder
What a great effort, Rita! You and your community should be proud!
Kristin
I agree! Great work!
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