Grant Wood's American Gothic and the Great Depression farmer and his unmarried daughter in front of their house. However, the models for the painting were Grant Wood's sister Nan, wearing a colonial-print apron imitating 19th-century American style, and Wood's dentist, Dr. Byron McKeeby of Iowa State. Wood painted the house with the people he imagined might live there. The house is actually a real place that exists in Eldon, Iowa. It was built in the American Gothic style. What is interesting about this work is that the models were never painted together or in front of the house, each element was painted individually. Although the story behind the creation of the painting is extremely fascinating, the symbolism of what the art depicts is what triggers the emotion. At the time of the Great Depression, on one, rather smaller, side were those who believed that the painting was a celebration of true "American" values. Among the most numerous were those who saw it as a mocking critique of poor, hard-working rural residents and their values. The couple's dour expressions led many outside the Midwest to believe that Wood, a self-described regionalist, was mocking rural life. The truth behind what Wood wanted to be is to be a positive statement on rural American values, an image of encouragement in a time of great adversity and disenchantment. The couple, in what is described as a solid, well-designed world, with all its strengths and weaknesses, represent the survivors of whatever happens. As the 1930s wore on and the Depression deepened, visions of the "American Gothic" shifted toward a darker outlook. It seemed that irony gave way to

Essay / Grant Wood's American Gothic and the Great Depression farmer and his unmarried daughter in front of their house. However, the models for the painting were Grant Wood's sister Nan, wearing a colonial-print apron imitating 19th-century American style, and Wood's dentist, Dr. Byron McKeeby of Iowa State. Wood painted the house with the people he imagined might live there. The house is actually a real place that exists in Eldon, Iowa. It was built in the American Gothic style. What is interesting about this work is that the models were never painted together or in front of the house, each element was painted individually. Although the story behind the creation of the painting is extremely fascinating, the symbolism of what the art depicts is what triggers the emotion. At the time of the Great Depression, on one, rather smaller, side were those who believed that the painting was a celebration of true "American" values. Among the most numerous were those who saw it as a mocking critique of poor, hard-working rural residents and their values. The couple's dour expressions led many outside the Midwest to believe that Wood, a self-described regionalist, was mocking rural life. The truth behind what Wood wanted to be is to be a positive statement on rural American values, an image of encouragement in a time of great adversity and disenchantment. The couple, in what is described as a solid, well-designed world, with all its strengths and weaknesses, represent the survivors of whatever happens. As the 1930s wore on and the Depression deepened, visions of the "American Gothic" shifted toward a darker outlook. It seemed that irony gave way to

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