"American Gothic" fraudulent!

RvW · 09-24-2003, 09:56 PM

I heard it with my own ears!...NPR radio today had an interesting story on the famed painting "American gothic" (the old picture of the farmer holding a pitchfork with his wife by his side)

Well, apparently, the artist commisioned his DENTIST to pose for the painting, and the "wife" was actually the artists assistant! Neither ever had anything to do with farming!

I wonder how many farmers have this picture in thier homes, and how they would feel hearing the truth! Betrayal I tell you, even the ultimate depiction of a hard working farmer is a fraud!

***

"Little known facts" on NPR. good stuff but, Some of them I would rather not know.

09-24-2003, 10:01 PM

Old facts. I have been to the house in the painting.

RvW · 09-24-2003, 10:07 PM

Iowa? ...Was there tuna in the freezer?

I had never heard this before..cant be the only one left in the dark about our faux cult heros. Man o man the things I take for granted...

Werent you born in that house Keta?

[ 09-24-2003, 11:20 PM: Message edited by: Row Vs. Wade ]

Silver Hilton · 09-25-2003, 05:45 AM

Say it isn't so!

As crushing as this disappointment is, I think I'll survive.

lost_sailor · 09-25-2003, 07:29 AM

It's art, man ... why does it matter who posed for it?

RvW · 09-25-2003, 07:44 AM

LS.. I may have a different view of art. To me its far more than colors on a canvas, or the accuracy/talent of painting/drawing/sculpting. I think any artist hopes to send a message with thier work. In this case the vision of the "farmer" has an appeal, makes a person wonder who these people are, what they experienced throughout thier farming careers. (could this be the artist intent?)

I'll say he did well, because the portrait is very widely recognized, but theres an eliment of disapointment hearing the two in the painting are not as they appear. Certainly not on a grand scale or a level that causes any loss of sleep or appetite, but I have a whole different view of the painting now, and it seemed interesting to mention the story.

DanS · 09-25-2003, 08:45 AM

Well, what about an artist that paints an image from his mind? The subject of the art may not even exist, except in the artist's mind but that shouldn't mean it has any less value.

CATCH AND EAT · 09-25-2003, 09:02 AM

no different than the firemans memorial at the towers. History never follows the real truth in art. This was evident in some of the pictures done of the civil war dead. "hmm. that sharp shooter died in the wrong position. Move him over there." Funny, never new sharp shooters used muskets.

Lucky Luke · 09-25-2003, 09:26 AM

R vs. W, why would the feeling or impression of what is presented to you in the Am. Gothic painting change by knowing that the figures are not of real farmers? Farmers are to practical anyway, I can't imagine them wanting to stand in one spot for a few hours for a presumptuous artist. Usually art is commissioned by folks that have a higher than acceptable image of themselves. What if the artist had imagined the image? Would you appreciate it more?

:smile:
Bernie,
Your observation reminds me of a beautiful painting that Sargeant did of a field of dead and dying soldiers hit by mustard gas in the first war. The imagery is painful and realistic even though not much gore is shown. The sense of horror and dispair reeks from the canvass, though. :depressed: In that painting its not what he left out or changed but what he choose to depict delicately in the background between the soldiers legs and such. A group of childeren in brights clothes kicking a ball around.

They can be discerned if you look at the painting very carefully. I wonder after reading your comment, if they were really there? I've never coveted a piece of art until I saw that painting. Know what I mean?

lost_sailor · 09-25-2003, 09:29 AM

I don't think I ever thought it was a portrait of real farmers, just sort of an idealized heartland sort of thing. Andrew Wyeth is the artist in question BTW.

Reminds me of a some funny family pictures we have, it was in front of the house at some gathering. We got Dad a pitchfork and he played right along with that stoic look.

Speaking of American realists, if you ever find yourself in Stockbridge, Mass. don't miss the Norman Rockwell museum. We've all seen so much of his work reprinted (Saturday Evening Post) but when you can see the textures and highlights ... WOW - that guy was GOOD!

Cool Texan · 09-25-2003, 09:48 AM

Next you're going to tell me those dogs are NOT really playing poker in the art on my wall. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

:grin:

OceanBlue · 09-25-2003, 10:25 AM

LS - Pardon, but I believe it was actually Grant Wood. And not the farmer's wife, but spinster daughter is depicted in the painting.

This from the Art Institute of Chicago:

Grant Wood adopted the precise realism of 15th-century northern European artists, but his native Iowa provided the artist with his subject matter. American Gothicdepicts a farmer and his spinster daughter posing before their house, whose gabled window and tracery, in the American Gothic style, inspired the painting's title. In fact, the models were the painter's sister and their dentist. Wood was accused of creating in this work a satire on the intolerance and rigidity that the insular nature of rural life can produce; he denied the accusation. American Gothicis an image that epitomizes the Puritan ethic and virtues that he believed dignified the Midwestern character.

Grantspastor · 09-25-2003, 10:27 AM

Cool Texan...it's o.k. those dogs really ARE playing poker. Artistic license only goes so far!

RvW · 09-25-2003, 10:54 AM

...

[ 09-25-2003, 11:59 AM: Message edited by: Row Vs. Wade ]

RvW · 09-25-2003, 10:57 AM

CT The poker is real, but the players are cats in dog costumes.

I dont want to debate the legitimacy of the painting "american gothic" based on the idea that the subjects in the picture were not farmers. My point is that what you see isnt always what you get and I find it challenging to maintain a view of something when an explaination comes along that dispells the "myth" know what I mean?

In my opinion, a true artist leaves interpretation up to the viewer which can make a piece compelling. In the case of american gothic, when you grow up familiarizing with things like these, and taking your own interpretation for granted, its a disapointment to hear the subject of the "art" is in-fact something completely different. Take Monet or Renoir for example, if they were to explain in detail what the paintings were and how they were inspired it would likely never jive with the impression an audience carries...If a 1969 gulwing mercedes drives by your house, do you really want to know its a fiberglass kit with a volkwagon engine and chassis? Nah, Id rather just appreciate the impression I have of a true gullwing mercedes...as I said, some "little known facts" I would rather not know, but they are interesting

lost_sailor · 09-25-2003, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OceanBlue:
LS - Pardon, but I believe it was actually Grant Wood.

Yes, exactly ... a typo

I got the "W" right [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

RvW, I see your point now, like watching a "Making of Star Wars" ? Awww, it's all FAKE! Too much information.

[ 09-25-2003, 01:14 PM: Message edited by: lost_sailor ]

CATCH AND EAT · 09-25-2003, 11:22 PM

Oh crap! The dogs playing poker is not real??? :shocked: Now you got me rethinking Wylie Coyotee. :grin: