In response to the Great Depression, the result of the stock market crash of 1929, newly elected president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, created The New Deal (U.S. Department of the Treasury). The New Deal was an initiative to put America's unemployed to work, build infrastructure, and stabilize the economy (Antique Trader, 2022). One of the many programs that came from The Great New Deal was the Work Projects Administration (WPA) and part of WPA was the Federal Arts Project, which put to work over 10.000 artists during The Great Depression (wikipedia, 2022). Among these artists was Grant Wood, an American painter. Featured below is his iconic piece, American Gothic, painted in 1930, it is oil on beaver board, and is displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Though painted prior to the WPA, this piece is meant to convey a positive image of America's rural communities (Art Institute Chicago, 2022). This painting is simplistic, the focus is on the personalities of the farmer and his daughter. Wood does an excellent job of telling their story through his subjects' facial expressions. Staunch and serious minded, the viewer is reminded that farm work is tough work, but rewarding and work that one can take pride in. The pride is evidenced in the crisply pressed and neat clothing of the pair. The tone is warm and earthy throughout. The pitchfork and architecture of the building in the background hint of the Midwest setting without overwhelming the piece. I would proudly display this piece in my home or place of business as a reminder of American values and traditions.
Featured above is Daniel Celentano's Pelham Bay, oil on canvas, painted in 1935. I believe this piece may be part of an individual's private collection and am unable to find where it may be displayed. Daniel Celentano grew up in East Harlem, New York, the son of Italian immigrants. and was commissioned to paint murals for the Federal Art Project (wikipedia, 2022). Celentano was an American Realism painter and often recreated realistic scenes from New York (wikipedia, 2022). American Scene painters did not use embellishments and their work was created for all palates, not only for the refined. America and the New Deal's focus on strong infrastructure is featured in this piece. The train line was one of the primary ways of transportation in the city. Celentano uses rich color tones and earthy hues in his work. While I feel Pelham Bay is inviting, I do not identify with the scene, having come from rural America.
The final piece (above), Stacking Hay, is the work of Jason Pollock, a lithograph print, circa 1935, and is on display at the Denver Art Musem. Pollock worked for the WPA Federal Art Project from 1938-1932 (wikipedia, 2022). Black and white, the print is still able to capture the essence of farm and life in rural America. Like the girl on top the haystack, most American Midwest and Western kids spent time in the fields helping to bring in hay whilst growing up. Pollock's use of shadow and shading creates an electric atmosphere. I find this print whimsical and realistic at once. The wide-open spaces invite daydreaming, and the never-ending work of farm chores are an enduring part of our country's values and traditions. I would display this print as a reminder of my roots.
References
Antique Trader. (2022). WPA Artists Changed the Course of US Art. (online). WPA Artists Changed the Course of U.S. Art - Antique Trader
Art Institute Chicago. (2022). The Collection. American Gothic. (online). American Gothic | The Art Institute of Chicago (artic.edu)
U.S. Department of the Treasury. (2022). WPA Art Collection. (online). WPA Art Collection | U.S. Department of the Treasury
Wikipedia. (2022). Daniel Celentano. (online). Daniel Celentano - Wikipedia
Wikipedia. (2022). Federal Art Project. (online) Federal Art Project - Wikipedia
Wikipedia. (2022). Jason Pollock. (online). Jackson Pollock - Wikipedia
WPA Artists Changed the Course of U.S. Art
From 1935 to 1943, Roosevelt's New Deal artists created paintings and murals and photographs and more to capture the social realism of the Great Depression. A Swann Auction Galleries event celebrates the work.
WPA Artists Changed the Course of U.S. Art
From 1935 to 1943, Roosevelt's New Deal artists created paintings and murals and photographs and more to capture the social realism of the Great Depression. A Swann Auction Galleries event celebrates the work.
Great work! I really enjoyed reading your post, I did mine on the Influence of World War One. I definitely enjoyed this assignment, getting to analyze the impact the world, political and just life had on art is interesting to me, especially as the art is approaching things i've learned about before or even art i've seen a lot - like the first image you used. I also really liked the shading in Haystack, too. Its thought provoking yet lovely, I'd enjoy it in my home too. I had never really considered the tone of American Gothic before, it is warm, the line work caught my eye as well.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the farming piece many times and never slowed down to look at it until this course. I never knew the women is his daughter. Looking at it closely I can see the age differences just by the shades of the skin and lines on their faces. Zooming in I also noticed the metal roofing on the buildings and the flowers on the porch. The artist did a great job of creating the stereotype of a farming family.
ReplyDeleteAll three photos make me think of live during the Great Depression and Americans struggles. Each of the three are unique styles yet they each tell a story. The third photo is my favorite because the simplicity of lines and shading tells a story.
I like your connection of the aesthetic presentation of American Gothic to Americas romantic ideals of hard work and simplicity. The earnest look upon their faces convey sincerity and sacrifice. A kind of humble altruism that would go along with the strong religious sentiments of the time. Their simple dress carries the sentiment and the crest of the house behind them could almost be the steeple of a church.
ReplyDeleteI love the paintings that you chose. They represent the common people, either in rural areas or on the bus living their day to day lives. For the longest time, I thought that American Gothic portrayed a man and his wife, I guess I should have looked more in depth into what the painting's intentions. I also like how you talk about their facial expressions and how you can tell that they take pride in their work. So true! I noticed that when I first looked upon this painting and I am happy to see you point it out as well.
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