Grant Wood

• Name: Grant Wood
• Birth Year: 1891
• Death Year: 1942
• City of Birth: Anamosa, Iowa
• Notable Characteristics: Rural American life and landscapes with a focus on the Midwest region
• Notable Artwork: American Gothic

Grant Wood became famous for depicting Midwestern rural life; he grew up surrounded by farmland and developed a deep appreciation for nature that would later influence much of his artwork.

Wood was part of a larger art movement known as Regionalism which sought to capture the unique character and spirit of different regions in America.

One of Wood’s most recognizable pieces is “American Gothic,” which depicts two stern-looking individuals standing outside their home with what appears to be pitchforks crossed over each other. The piece has become iconic for its striking imagery and captures many themes central to American culture, such as hard work, simplicity, and self-sufficiency.