I went to the Whitney Museum today to see a major exhibition of the paintings and arts and crafts works of the painter Grant Wood. He is famous, of course, for his work "American Gothic." You know the painting. I was standing back while lots of people moved in to look at the painting closely, and I wanted to get a photograph of the painting surrounded by people. A couple of people stepped away, and this father quickly stepped in, and held up his son so his wife could snap a photo of them with the painting! Completely caught me by surprise, but I managed to get two shots! What an unexpected pleasure, and even the guard was smiling!
So YOU are the reason American Gothic isn't in it's rightful place at the Chicago Art Institute! Don't know if I sent you the link before, but there was a story in the NYT about the house serving as backdrop for the painting. It is a real house in Eldon, Iowa and the article tells a woman's story of living in a house serving as an essential piece of artwork:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/18/arts/design/american-gothic-grant-wood-eldon-iowa-whitney-museum-.html