Understanding Northern Renaissance Art

 


Understanding Northern Renaissance Art


    

    Ever since I was a little girl, art that did not have a lot of color did not seem enjoyable, as the faces in the painting of American Gothic by Grant Woods also seem to depict. The stark lines and minute details were influenced by Northern Renaissance painters as he learned to admire those works when he lived in Munich. Throughout my life I have seen this image and thought it was possibly just a simple painting of possibly a farmer who had a wife that was mad at him. The image was always popping up at different points in life and it was somewhat confusing to me as to why this was such an important piece, now knowing that there are many stories that viewers depict onto the painting of what they might think it is about or what is going on behind the scenes and seems to be more of a conversational piece to hear other peoples take on the painting. 

    My grandparents went through the great depression and hearing stories about what they went through seems like there could be a lot of sadness and stress especially in small towns that had more agricultural pull to it. The painting was done in 1930, which is around that timeframe of the depression which might have been the influence of the painting, but why do so many other viewers take a spin on it as being anti-internationalism, a tribute to rural values, or Roman gods. I have seen all of these depicted variations in print, from animals in their place to foods to inanimate objects and people still know its referencing this original painting. I would either have one of the original pieces as more of a conversational starter or have one printed where both of my dogs are in the place of the people. 

 The painting details realism and the dignity of rural life reflect humanist ideals of individual importance. The stern expressions, simple clothing, and rigid posture of the figures in the painting evoke Protestant work ethics which were reinforced by the Reformation, symbolizing the persistence of their values in American culture. I am not sure if the art piece inspires me or not since I do not have a background in anything farm related and my life has been easy so to speak, but the emotions it gives me is moving. The emotions mostly because it was painting during rough time that I could never imagine going through and what it could possibly do to a marriage on top of everything in the world going on. The husband seems to be holding onto the pitchfork because that is all he can do left for his family and it does not seem to be enough for the wife. What is your take on the painting? 









Work Cited 

Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker, et al. “As Contested as the Nation.” Smarthistory, https://smarthistory.org/seeing-america-2/american-gothic-sa/. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.

Wood, Grant. “American Gothic.” The Art Institute of Chicago, Arts of the Americas, 1 Jan. 1970, https://www.artic.edu/artworks/6565/american-gothic.





Comments

  1. Wanzetta MorningFebruary 21, 2025 at 8:48 PM

    Your blog post on American Gothic offers a personal and reflective take on the painting, which makes it engaging to read. I really liked how you connected your childhood perception of the artwork to your deeper understanding of it now. The way you explored different interpretations (such as their ties to the Great Depression, rural values, and even mythology) adds depth to your analysis.

    I also found your discussion on realism and humanist ideals interesting, particularly how the painting reflects Protestant work ethics and the struggles of rural life. The idea that the pitchfork symbolizes the husband’s last effort to provide for his family is a compelling interpretation.

    One way to strengthen your analysis might be to explore Grant Wood’s own intentions with the painting. Some scholars suggest that he painted it as both a tribute and a satire of rural America. Including a brief mention of this dual perspective could add another layer to your discussion.

    Overall, I really enjoyed your perspective! You mentioned that the painting gives you a strong emotional response, do you think American Gothic would have the same impact if the figures' expressions were different?

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