ART PROJECT

By Kaitlyn Jung, Jordan Scavo, and Annabel Shue

THE ARTIST ANNABEL

SHUE

GRANT WOOD: A MAN WITH A PLAN

Artist: Grant Wood

Born on February 13, 1891.

Place: Anamosa, Iowa.

1901: 10 years old when his father died.

tragic occasion led to him to take up job as
apprentice at a local metal shop.

Graduated from Washington High School

Attended Handicraft Guild; interest in art

peaked.

Enrolled at the School of Art Institute of

Chicago and studied many styles of painting
Ex) Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.

INSPIRATION
Idea came from a small,
picturesque city: Eldon, Iowa
Houses in the background inspired
by houses in Eldon. Upper windows
were in the shape of a medieval
pointed arch.
Chose dentist and Woods daughter
as people in front of the house
The picture on the right is the
American Gothic House.

THE MUSEUM DIRECTOR JORDAN

SCAVO

USE OF ELEMENTS
AND PRINCIPLES
This section also goes along with the collectors
job
LINES: thin, smooth, straight, curved, contour
SHAPES: circles, squares, rectangles, triangles,
curved, angular, mostly organic, soft-edged,
hard-edged
COLORS: dark, mostly neutrals, browns, blacks
TEXTURES: rough

Rough texture of canvas = farmers go through

rough times

MORE ON ELEMENTS
AND PRINCIPLES
Balance: asymmetrical and symmetrical
2-D deep space - you can see for miles

clear separation between positive and negative space

Value: top of forehead is lightest and coat and dress is darkest

Emphasis: immediately drawn to the farmers (man and
woman) and the pitchfork
Strong contrast on face
No rhythm; still life
No repetition of symbols, but color black and organic shapes
in foreground are patterns

THE CRITIC JORDAN SCAVO

METAPHORICALLY
SPEAKING
Painting represents Dust bowl.
Farmers were very poor at this time
it was too dry and windy to grow good
crops.

Judging by their simple attire and

house, these people are likely poor
Dust and other possible pollutants in
the air/background.
Painting is very literal; the only
metaphors turned out to be a key
part of the meaning.

EXPRESSIVE
QUALITY

At first glance, the art may seem

passive

When you look at it closely, can

tell that mood is sad and serious.

People in the center look worried

or upset, and most likely going
through tough times.

IMPORTANCE OF
TIME
Since piece was created during
the Great Depression, all of
bleak colors represent the dark
times.
The man and the woman look
very worried, being under
financial stress (pertains to
time period).
Rough texture of canvas
reflects rough times.

THE HISTORIAN KAITLYN JUNG

HISTORY BEHIND
AMERICAN
GOTHIC
Contemporary art: art
created in the present
period (1900s to presentday)
American Gothic: made in
August 1930.
Piece of art was created
during the Great Depression
time of great struggle for
the American people,
especially for the farmers.

LIFE THENLIFE
NOW

Great Depression from 1929 to

1939. Stock Market Crash (1929)
finished off chain of events before
this event
Dust Bowl caused by failure to
prevent the soil from leaving the
ground led to wind erosion.
Thousands of farmers properties
perished
created droughts and swept up soil
and bits of dust

After the Dust Bowl, farmers

changed farming techniques so
that the soil stayed in the ground.
that way, another Dust Bowl
doesnt destroy the farmers hard
work

UNDERLYING
MESSAGE

Target audience was probably farmers

during Great Depression
Reached out to the thousands of farmers
struggling and constantly living in fear of
losing their crops because of a notorious
Dust Bowl.
Gave hope to those struggling day by day
under the hard labor, symbolized by the
pitch fork.

MINOR DETAILS
Woman looks worn out and stressed.
Man has wrinkles of worry because of
agriculture and the distress other
farmers are going through.
Dark smudges in the blue sky may be
pollution caused by Dust Bowl or from
pollution in general.
People likely not wealthy; simple attire
and house
May seem passive, but is serious or sad

CONDITIONS OF AMERICAN
GOTHIC
An oil painting on beaver board of a man and a woman who are farmers
Used old-master painting technique; tried out oil glazes on panel
The size is large for the details
Time hasnt affected this painting
very well-maintained and in good appearance

To keep it in original condition, Id modify it to be sturdier and (subtly) touch up

some areas with artists techniques and colors
Grant Wood organizes painting so the viewer is drawn to woman and man, the
main subjects.
situated in front of the house and less important details, (i.e. the setting), are behind
them.

THE COLLECTORS JORDAN

SCAVO AND ANNABEL SHUE

STYLES OF ART
Realism (imitation) Theory: very realistic painting
trees, fog, sky, pitchfork, attire

Expressivism (emotionalism) Theory: has a lot of emotional concepts

the stoic expressions, the frowns and wrinkles on the farmers, the tired and
sad mood/vibe

Non-objective (structuralism/formalism) theory: artist has good use of

color, line, shape, texture, and form
Functionalism Theory: artist sends message for hope and determination
during hard times

INTERPRETATION

Words from the painting: fear, hope,

sadness, madness, anger, complexity

The Great Depression and the struggle of

farmers is a major theme in this artwork

Fit in well with time period (Dust Bowl and

Great Depression), especially in the rural
areas (farming/agriculture)

FINAL THOUGHTS
1. We like that the artist tries to paint a picture that is as realistic as possible about the hard
times a specific group of people were going through and what the Great Depression was
really like.
2. There isnt much color, which is why the viewer should pay attention to the rare use of
bright colors, like red, blue, etc.
3. This painting is suited for a house that is very standardized and old-fashioned. The
painting has more of a serious vibe, which is why this painting wouldnt fit into a vibrant
house
4. We would expect to see this artwork in a gallery or museum because it is a famous
painting with rich history.
5. Grant Wood is very successful in communicating his message because just through clues
that seem miniscule, he helps with the viewers understanding of the hard times when he
was alive.

CITATIONS FOR PICTURES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Wood
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gothic_House
http://www.americangothichouse.net/about/the-painting/
http://
www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2004/0319dustbowl.html
http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/dustbowl/
https://infogr.am/Comparison-of-the-Great-Depression
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression
http://www.history.com/topics/1929-stock-market-crash

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!