Thursday, June 11, 2015

American Gothic

Author: Steven Biel
Stars: 2
Review by: MandyApgar

Pretty much everyone knows it - a pair of farmers, pitchfork and all, standing stoically in front of their residence. The book goes into the painting's conception and construction by artist Grant Wood (he originally intended the couple to be father and daughter, with his sister modeling the lady and Grant's dentist brandishing the pitchfork) and its legacy. Subject to numerous spoofs, conspiracies, and even threats, the painting has been through quite a lot before finding its current settled state at the Art Institute of Chicago. The book had a good premise but it went about things wrong and often harped on the same subject - Grant's sexuality, certain obscure details of the painting's construction, making a mess of its various interpretations. For being such a short book it did not offer much that was objective and concrete.
 

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