TheOldMastersPrintsAmerican Gothic by Grant Wood: meaning, location and key facts
American Gothic is an oil on beaverboard by Grant Wood, painted in 1930. It measures 78 × 65.3 cm and is held at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Key facts
| Artist | Grant Wood |
|---|---|
| Date | 1930 |
| Medium | Oil on Beaverboard |
| Dimensions | 78 × 65.3 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Art Institute of Chicago |
| Style | American Regionalism |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q464782) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
A stern farmer holding a pitchfork and a younger woman stand in front of a white wooden house with a Gothic Revival window. Grant Wood said they were a father and his daughter, although they are often read as husband and wife.
The models were the artist’s sister, Nan Wood Graham, and his dentist, Byron McKeeby. The house exists and stands in Eldon, Iowa. The vertical lines of the pitchfork are echoed in the window, the man’s shirt and the building.
Did you know?
- In 1930 it won a bronze medal and 300 dollars in a competition at the Art Institute of Chicago, which bought it.
- The Eldon house in the background is now a small museum, the American Gothic House Center.
- It is one of the most parodied images in American art, in advertising, film and magazine covers.
Where to see the original
American Gothic is at the Art Institute of Chicago. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
| A1 (59.4 × 84.1 cm) | above the sofa or as a living-room centrepiece |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is American Gothic?
- The original is held at the Art Institute of Chicago.
- How big is American Gothic?
- The original painting measures 78 × 65.3 cm (height × width).
- Who painted American Gothic and when?
- It was painted by Grant Wood in 1930.
- Can I hang a reproduction of American Gothic at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2, A1 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €58.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
