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Grant Wood: American Gothic

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Originally published: 16th March 2023

This poem was placed 1st in the "Your Choice O" contest sponsored by Brian Strand (Judged 13th May 2025)

Grant Wood's "American Gothic" (Oil on Beaverboard 1930)

stoic or mourning in a time of depression or keepers of secrets with a hostile divide? why daylit drawn curtains made from fabric she's wearing and 'mother-in-law's tongue' on the porch to the side? is the pitchfork that's upright a symbol of darkness that's repeated in lines on the clothes, arch and face? a tribute to values in eldon, iowa or a satire in oil of its people and place?

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Ellen Gwaltney Bales

Date: 8/6/2024 12:02:00 AM

Interesting take on the painting, Gary. It makes me look at things I've never noticed before. Thank you! Ellen

Gary Radice
Date: 8/6/2024 12:23:00 AM

Thanks Ellen. The people in the painting were painted at separate sittings, one being his dentist and the other his beloved sister Nan (Wood thought he may have upset her the way he portrayed her here so he painted her portrait a year later - a painting he kept in the family and never sold during his lifetime ) Cheers - Gary

Yolanda Nicholsen

Date: 8/8/2023 3:26:00 AM

enjoyed reading your awesome work

Gary Radice
Date: 8/8/2023 8:02:00 AM

Thank you for your very kind words Yolanda. Cheers - Gary

Timothy Ray

Date: 7/11/2023 9:40:00 PM

excellent at delivering points to ponder and the juxtaposition well executed....your quill delivers a great path to reflect on....

Gary Radice
Date: 7/16/2023 9:48:00 PM

Hi Timothy. For some unknown reason I missed reading your comment until now so apologies. Thank you for your valued comments. When it comes to the challenge of writing an ekphrasis I enjoy sharpening my quill with my pen knife in preparation. :) Cheers - Gary

Paul Callus

Date: 7/4/2023 10:48:00 AM

You have a very keen eye, Gary! I have never crossed paths with Grant Wood's artistic work, nor am I that up-to-date with American history, but on seeing the painting and reading your interpretation of it, I must say you did a great job. ~ Regards // paul

Gary Radice
Date: 7/4/2023 12:00:00 PM

Thanks Paul. I'll hold my hand up and say that although I have seen the painting crop up several times somewhere in my life I never knew who painted it until I came across it on the net recently. I describe many past artists as the pop stars of their day; 'painting the lyrics', so as to speak, that ask questions and that celebrate love, life and death etc. Of course, art is open to personal interpretations, misconceptions and the like but that's what I like about art ..and indeed poetry. I like to ask questions in many of my ekphrases that I attempt as it helps me think about my writing. Thanks again for taking time out to read and comment; it's very much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

John Watt

Date: 6/28/2023 9:20:00 PM

The grim demeanor of the two subjects certainly raises a lot of questions. My first thought was Great Depression plus the Dust Bowl would have made for austere living conditions in the American Midwest, but 1930 was too early for the Dust Bowl (started in 1931) and the stock market crash was in late October 1929... not sure the Great Depression was all that "Great" until years later. Makes for some provocative questions as you have raised, maybe irony plays a part? Maybe the sitters had just eaten sour grapes? Who Knows? Love your work... hope you are doing well. Cheers ~ John

Gary Radice
Date: 6/29/2023 1:51:00 AM

Great comments as per always John - thank you. Irony? Yes, could very well be. I don't know and, of course, I will never truly know. This from Google Land: "..he aimed to create a positive statement about rural American values and provide an image of reassurance at a time of great hardship and disenchantment brought by the Great Depression."...Hmmm..I'm of the opinion that that quote was more to do with appeasing those people he had originally upset with the painting. I sense that he's a painter who likes to hold up a mirror to his work so that the viewer may see what the viewer wants to see. Ambiguity being deliberate. I don't particularly like the painting..I just like 'the big who, what, where, how and why that lies behind it. Cheers - Gary

Sotto Poet

Date: 6/11/2023 5:45:00 AM

As a lover of literature, I find myself drawn to the art of Ekphrasis poetry, in which poets eloquently describe their interpretation of a painting. Your work, Gary, is a shining example of this form, and I must say that I have found it to be quite thought-provoking. Blessings and thanks for dropping by my page.

Gary Radice
Date: 6/11/2023 6:40:00 AM

Thank you. I truly appreciate your comments. In hindsight, I set out to write this ekphrasis not because I'm in love with the painting; more the story behind, the symbolism within, and the question 'why' he painted it. I'm glad you like it. Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

Robert Lindley

Date: 5/31/2023 8:39:00 AM

To me this is brilliant poetry. A definite fav too. God bless.

Gary Radice
Date: 5/31/2023 11:42:00 AM

Thanks so much Robert. It's wonderful to read you again here at The Soup. Great news! Cheers - Gary

Christopher Flaherty

Date: 5/10/2023 12:57:00 PM

Brilliant as always Gary La Deep dark poetic art on your part You paint a picture of both the painter and into the subjects mindset Congratulations on your win you joining another line of fine poets from your Liverpool home

Christopher Flaherty
Date: 5/11/2023 2:40:00 PM

We all or who amongst us don't need and seek inspiration from time to time don't we Sir

Gary Radice
Date: 5/11/2023 2:14:00 AM

Hi Christopher. I tend to turn to writing ekphraises when my poetic head needs a jolt of a prompt to write something. Fortunately the ekphrases I've written I view among my best pieces. Good to see you back writing at The Soup. I need to catch up in the next few days with my reading and commenting. Cheers - Gary

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 4/18/2023 12:49:00 PM

Good job with Brian! he loves this form and you did quite well with it.

Gary Radice
Date: 4/19/2023 7:12:00 AM

Thanks Andrea. Cheers - Gary

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 4/15/2023 1:42:00 PM

I really do love to read an Ekphrasis poem Gary, the various ways poets write about what they see in a painting. Have enjoyed reading this one of yours… Belle

Gary Radice
Date: 4/16/2023 11:57:00 PM

Thank you Belle. I'm of the opinion that Grant Wood deliberately made the painting's meanings and symbolism ambiguous. He holds a mirror up to the viewer so that they'll see and find what they wish to see and find. I think that's what I like about 'American Gothic'. Cheers - Gary

Laura Leiser

Date: 4/15/2023 7:15:00 AM

Love the queries that you put forth so poetically, Gary! Brilliant! :)

Gary Radice
Date: 4/15/2023 7:44:00 AM

Thanks Laura! Cheers - Gary

Bill Baker

Date: 4/14/2023 3:22:00 PM

Thanks for the informative poem, Gary, and the questions it leaves tobe ponder on. Have a great week, my friend, A poet friend in Texas, Bill

Gary Radice
Date: 4/15/2023 12:50:00 AM

Thanks Bill. I hope you are keeping well. This is a painting I wasn't too familiar with until I stumbled on it whilst googling another artist. It hooked me and yet it's a strange painting. The artist painted the two people at separate times. They were his sister..and his dentist! It's not a great painting in my eyes but there was something about it that made me want to write about it. Poetry eh? :) Cheers - Gary

Susan Lawrence

Date: 4/9/2023 6:31:00 AM

I love how thought provoking your poem is Gary ! I grew up seeing this painting in books . It’s symbolism constantly discussed . I love the questions your poem raises ! Belated congratulations on your win ! Susan :)

Gary Radice
Date: 4/9/2023 12:34:00 PM

Hi Susan. Thank you for your visit and valued comments. I love any painting or piece of art that triggers debate and discussion. This painting certainly does that. :) Cheers - Gary

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 4/8/2023 10:29:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. What a wonderful write. "Happy Easter" with blessings...................

Gary Radice
Date: 4/9/2023 12:27:00 PM

..and a happy Easter to you too Paula. Thank you. Cheers - Gary

I Am Anaya

Date: 4/4/2023 3:21:00 PM

Congratulations Gary on your placement! I dig your fascination with Art, the house behind them still stands and is tourist attraction in Iowa, have you seen it? Fun fact they parodied it in the intro of "Green Acres" American sitcom!

I Am Anaya
Date: 4/5/2023 8:53:00 AM

Gary, type in Green Acres intro, it's worth it!

Gary Radice
Date: 4/4/2023 11:58:00 PM

Hi Anaya. Thanks so much for your comments. Yes, I believe the house (Dibble House) can be viewed by the public. Ive not visited it myself. I've seen the painting parodied on 'The Simpsons' . I don't think we can get 'Green Acres' here in the UK but I will look into it. Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

Charlotte Puddifoot

Date: 4/2/2023 2:13:00 PM

they do look rather grim, don't they? wouldn't want to run into either of them up a dark alley lol i can't say i'm a fan of the painting, i much prefer your poetic tribute to it..thanks for your kind comment on my tanka.:)

Gary Radice
Date: 4/2/2023 11:56:00 PM

Hi Charlotte. Yes, they look grim. :) The painting, to me too, is grim. It's as if the two characters, through Grant Wood don't want us to look further than what we can see at face value...I saw writing a poem about it a challenge. Cheers - Gary

Brian Sambourne

Date: 4/2/2023 11:24:00 AM

Incredibly effective use of rhetorical questions after each stanza that prompt reader reflection. You've caught the ambiguity of "American Gothic" to a T - "stoic or mourning" - there's the rub. An excellent verse, Gary. Be well. Brian

Gary Radice
Date: 4/2/2023 11:58:00 PM

Thanks so much Brian. I find using questions a device for involving the reader more with my Poetry. I really appreciate your comments. Cheers - Gary

Elizabeth Mccann

Date: 3/30/2023 12:48:00 AM

Brilliant poem about brilliant painting! Thank you for the reminder. Elizabeth

Gary Radice
Date: 3/30/2023 3:57:00 AM

Thanks Elizabeth. Cheers - Gary

Fin Chuuk

Date: 3/21/2023 12:48:00 PM

Very interesting. And I do see Jennifer Aniston on the woman’s face. Anywho, a big congrats on your win. :)

Gary Radice
Date: 3/22/2023 12:41:00 AM

Thanks Fin.."When American Gothic was first shown in 1930, there were critics who said that she (Grant's sister Nan who modelled the woman in the painting) looked like the missing link, that her face would turn milk sour,” says Wood biographer R. Tripp Evans. The following year, as a sort of apology, Grant painted Portrait of Nan, one of his most intriguing works. “It’s really kind of a love letter from Grant to his sister,” says Evans. “He adored Nan. And it’s a painting that he felt very close to as well, one of very few of his mature paintings that he kept for himself.” Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick

Date: 3/20/2023 2:48:00 PM

Congratulations on this winning work in Brian's contest. Way to go. Thanks for sharing ...Sara

Gary Radice
Date: 3/20/2023 3:09:00 PM

Thank you Sara and I believe congratulations to you too for the contest. I noted the names who won but have not read any of them yet - hopefully tomorrow. Cheers - Gary

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 3/20/2023 7:22:00 AM

I love this write Gary. An interesting look at detail in the painting and its underlying meaning(s). It's intriguing. cheers and congratulations! :)

Gary Radice
Date: 3/20/2023 12:37:00 PM

Thanks Linda. It's not a painting I'm particularly in love with to be honest but it's the stories and secrets behind the painting Grant Wood painted that fascinates me. Cheers - Gary

Christuraj Alex

Date: 3/20/2023 7:16:00 AM

"a symbol of darkness that's repeated in lines on the clothes" - Great poem. Congratulations!

Gary Radice
Date: 3/20/2023 12:39:00 PM

Thanks Christuraj. This from Google Land: "The pitchfork is a richly symbolic item. Referred to as a trident in Greek mythology, it was the symbol of the mighty Poseidon, god of the sea. In Christianity the pitchfork came to be associated with the Devil and with wicked activity" Cheers - Gary