American Gothic Parody | Real Art Is Better!
This week’s Thirsty Thursday beer painting is entitled American Goblet, and is a parody of Grant Wood’s iconic painting American Gothic. Switching the pitchfork for a beer goblet changes everything about this piece. Wood painted this composition to represent American culture. The American Gothic house is a real house in Dibble, Iowa, and the artist painted the couple that he imagined would live in such a house. The pitchfork is a symbol of labor in the field, but the beer glass symbolizes relaxation after a hard day’s work. Now the woman looks irritated at her man, instead of just looking worn out from hard work. I hope this painting makes you laugh, because it’s intended to be a lighthearted look at the way Americans have evolved since the 19th century. Wood painted this in 1930, three years prior to the end of Prohibition. Maybe that is why the woman (modeled after Wood’s sister), is mad at her husband (modeled after Wood’s dentist), because he is actually breaking the law.
The original oil painting, and limited-edition prints are for sale at my
Etsy shop.
