American Gothic, painted in the realist tradition, is an homage to the American home. Painted by a man born and raised in the American Midwest. Grant Wood, born in Anamosa, Iowa in 1891, had drawn since he was a small child. No one paid much attention to his drawings and Wood seemed destined to be grow up to be a farmer, to lead a life spent ploughing the rolling Iowa hills. He loved his life on the farm and he enjoyed tending their farm animals. But after his tenth Birthday his father died and his mother, unable to keep up with both farm and family, sold the farm and moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
In Cedar Rapids, Wood eventually learned to enjoy his new life, and he immersed himself in school. In high school he found himself working on illustrating the school paper and yearbook, and occasionally painting the scenery and props for school plays. HIs easy-going attitude and sense of humor helped him to make friends easily. After graduating from high school Wood spent his time in a variety of ways: he took art classes, taught art, made jewelry, learned carpentry, decorated people’s houses and cared for his mother and his sister Nan. When World War I started Wood joined the military. Upon learning of his artistic abilities Wood was put to work painting camouflage on tanks and cannons. After serving in the military he went to Europe to pursue his study of art. While studying in Germany Wood made the decision to pursue his own style and create works reflecting the importance and beauty of American subjects while utilizing some of the simple ideas of the European masters.