What you are looking at
A stern farmer holding a pitchfork stands beside a woman in front of a small white house with a pointed Gothic window. The pitchfork's three prongs are echoed in the stitching of his overalls.
Why it is famous
Wood saw the little house in Eldon, Iowa, and imagined the kind of people who would live in it. His sister Nan Wood Graham and his dentist, Byron McKeeby, posed. It won a prize at the Art Institute's 1930 exhibition and the museum bought it, and it has been parodied endlessly ever since.
How big is American Gothic?
American Gothic measures 78 × 65.3 cm (30.7 × 25.7 in), without its frame. It is roughly the same size as the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
The Art Institute of Chicago shows it in its American art galleries.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work. See all famous paintings in Chicago.
Also at the Art Institute of Chicago
Paris Street; Rainy DayGustave Caillebotte, 1877 Chicago
The Old GuitaristPablo Picasso, 1903 to 1904 Chicago
NighthawksEdward Hopper, 1942 ChicagoFrequently asked questions
Who painted American Gothic?
Grant Wood painted American Gothic in 1930.
Where is American Gothic?
American Gothic is in the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, United States. (Gallery 263.)
How big is American Gothic?
78 × 65.3 cm (30.7 × 25.7 in). It is roughly the same size as the Mona Lisa.
What is American Gothic made with?
Oil on Beaver Board.
Sources: Art Institute of Chicago, "American Gothic"; Wikidata Q464782; Wikipedia, "American Gothic". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.