“American Gothic” is a painting by Iowa-born Grant Wood.

Wood’s iconic work depicts a man and a woman standing in front of a house.

The man, a farmer, is clad in overalls and holds a pitchfork, gazing directly at the viewer. The woman stands beside him, her head slightly turned, with a stern expression on her face.

While there is a noticeable age difference between the figures, their relationship remains unclear. The painting could portray a husband and wife, or a father and his daughter.

Wood drew inspiration for the figures from his sister Nan and his dentist, Dr. B.H. McKeeby, according to Britannica. The two posed separately as Wood worked on the painting.

The house in the background was inspired by a house Wood saw in Eldon, Iowa, according to the Art Institute of Chicago’s website.

The house was built in the Carpenter Gothic style, popular in the 1880s.

Wood completed the painting in 1930. Upon completion, he submitted it to the Art Institute of Chicago, where it was accepted into a major exhibition.

Wood received the Norman Wait Harris Bronze Award for his work, winning $300 in prize money.

The painting has remained a popular piece to this day. It quickly gained attention upon its initial display.

Much of the public interest in the painting stemmed from viewers attempting to decipher the story behind it. As the painting’s backstory is largely unknown, many have formed their own interpretations.

One prevalent belief is that the painting was intended as a satirical commentary on the Midwest, according to the Art Institute of Chicago. However, Wood consistently refuted this notion throughout his life, as stated by Britannica.

The Art Institute of Chicago’s website states that Wood aimed to “convey a positive image of rural American values, offering a vision of reassurance at the beginning of the Great Depression.”