ART Write your… CRITICISM * first and last name * today’s date WORKSHEET * art period 1, 2, 3, or 4 * your grade level 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Now we will practice researching famous artists.

We will be discussing the artist Grant Wood and the paintings he created.

Answer each question completely, thoroughly and in your own words.

Write on the back or on another sheet of paper if you need more room. MEET THE ARTIST Grant Wood

Sit back and watch the movie. Stay awake and pay attention.

Original sketch for Self-Portrait 1932 STEP ONE: THE ARTIST What is the Artist’s Name: Grant Wood

What nationality (country) American was the artist?

Where was the artist born? near Anamosa, Iowa, USA

When was the artist born? 1892

When did the artist die? 1942 When did the artist create art? 1906 – 1941 (time span) started ______- ended ______STEP TWO: DESCRIPTION

In this step of art criticism you carefully make a list of all the things you see in the work. These include the following: STEP TWO: DESCRIPTION

Art Form: Painting

Art Movement:

Realistic and American Regionalism Credit Line Grant Wood. American Gothic. 1930. Oil on beaverboard. 29 ¼ x 24 ½”. Friends of the American Art Collection. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Title: American Gothic Date of completion: 1930 Medium and/or process used: Oil on beaverboard Size: 29 ¼ X 24 ½” Owned or gifted by: Friends of the American Art Collection Location of original work: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois STEP TWO: DESCRIPTION

Subject: (what is the work about?)

Portrait STEP TWO: DESCRIPTION

Objects: (what is in the work?)

• man • woman • broach • glasses • pitchfork • house • barn • tree tops • church steeple • sky STEP TWO: DESCRIPTION Details: (look closer and what do you see?) In the foreground I see: • the farmer is bald, wearing glasses, with a stern look on his face and his eyes starring straight at the viewer. • the farmer is wearing a white shirt buttoned to the collar under worn blue jean coveralls with a dark wool dress jacket. • the farmer is holding a pitchfork with his strong right hand. • the pitchfork pattern is mimicked in this coverall and shirt. STEP TWO : DESCRIPTION Details: (look closer and what do you see?)

• the farmers wife is standing just to her right and behind the farmer • she has light colored hair that is parted in the middle and pulled back tightly • she seems to be looking just to the right of the viewer • she isn’t smiling or frowning but looks somewhat melancholy to me STEP TWO: DESCRIPTION Details: (look closer and what do you see?)

• she is wearing a long sleeved black dress with a white collar at the neck • there is an oval cameo broach pinned between the collar • over the dress is a maroon colored sleeveless apron with a small country pattern print and white ric rack trim STEP TWO: DESCRIPTION

Details: (look closer and what do you see?)

In the middle ground I see: • a 2 story, white house with board & baton siding • the gothic style window on the 2nd story is positioned directly in the middle of the house and towards the middle of the painting with a sheer printed curtain hanging • below the porch roof is a double 2 over 2 country style window • the porch is held up with turned columns STEP TWO: DESCRIPTION Details: (look closer and what do you see?)

• behind the woman and continuing off the canvas is the kitchen door with a green lean to style porch roof • there are plants sitting on the steps outside the kitchen door • behind the man and continuing off the canvas is a red barn with a light brown tin style roof STEP TWO: DESCRIPTION Details: (look closer and what do you see?)

In the background I see: • round tree tops in shade of green • the very tip of a church steeple peeking out above the tree tops • a light blue sky with a few soft clouds STEP THREE: ANALYSIS

Elements of Art used in the art work: Lines • pitchfork has 3 vertical prongs that are mimicked in the farmers coveralls and in the window • the ric rack trim on the woman’s apron create zigzag lines • the board & baton siding create straight vertical lines • the porch roof has horizontal straight lines • the roofs of the house & barn create diagonal lines STEP THREE: ANALYSIS

Elements of Art used in the art work: Colors • color scheme is subtle and basic • clothes are black, white, and faded blue • woman’s hair is blonde and shaded • faces and the hand are the tones of Caucasian • white house is slightly yellowed with age • barn is faded red • kitchen porch roof is green • trees are shades of green and yellow • sky is pale blue with just a hint of soft white clouds STEP THREE: ANALYSIS

Elements of Art used in the art work: Shapes • faces are oval • glasses are round • opening in man’s jacket is rectangle • broach is oval • windows are rectangle • front of house first floor & windows are rectangle • porch roof is rectangle • second floor creates a triangle • boards on siding create rectangles • trees are round STEP THREE: ANALYSIS

Elements of Art used in the art work: Forms • barn showing both the side and front create a cube •The front porch roof creates a trapazoid prisim

STEP THREE: ANALYSIS

Elements of Art used in the art work: Textures • the clothing is smooth • pitchfork is shiny, cold and pointed sharp • ric rack & broach are bumpy • man’s face looks leathery from the sun and lumpy with the wrinkles of age and hard work • the tree tops are pebbly looking STEP THREE: ANALYSIS

Elements of Art used in the art work: Space Most of the objects in this painting touch each other

Foreground: • the pitchfork and hand are in the very front of the picture plane • the man who overlaps the woman

Middle Ground • they are both in front of the house • the man is in front of the barn

Background • the house & barn overlap the trees which overlaps the church steeple • the sky fills the remainder upper forth of the painting STEP FOUR: INTERPRETATION

What message does this artwork communicate to you?

In this step you will explain or tell the meaning or mood of the work. Here you can make guesses about the artwork, as long as they appear to be supported by what you see in the work. Use your intelligence, imagination and courage. STEP FOUR: INTERPRETATION

Determination of American farmers to overcome hardships during a hard economic environment.

To me it has a warm feeling. I can almost smell the bread baking in her oven and the cow mooing in the barn. The sky is clear and calm, The house is clean and enchanting.

I get a feeling of hope for a brighter future. STEP FIVE: JUDGEMENT

Is this a successful work of art?

In this step you determine the degree of artistic merit. Were the art elements use in a successful aesthetics way. STEP FIVE: JUDGEMENT

Personal Judgment

Do you like the work? Why or why not – be specific. No one can tell you what to like or dislike. You must make up your own mind. STEP FIVE: JUDGEMENT

I feel that this is an aesthetically successful painting. The art elements are organized in a pleasing and inspiring way. Making the art work easy to explore and understand. I have enjoyed this painting for many years and would enjoy having a copy in my home. I would be interested in exploring more art of this style by this artist. STEP SIX: REFERRENCES

This is a research paper which means you should examine at least 3-5 resources for your information on each piece of artwork. This can include complete internet addresses, books including title and author, encyclopedia including title and page number, DVD titles and author, etc. STEP SIX: REFERRENCES

Internet Address: http://www.grantwoodartgaller y.org/

Books: Grand Wood, Kate F. Jennings, World Publications Group Inc., 1994

Encyclopedia: http://www.artcyclopedia.com/ artists/wood_grant.html

DVD: Dropping In On Grant Wood, Crystal Productions