Grant Wood, George Washington and an enduring American myth

A conversation with Dr. Shirley Reece-Hughes, Curator, Amon Carter Museum of American Art and Dr. Steven Zucker in front of Grant Wood, Parson Weems' Fable, 1939, oil on canvas, 38 1/8 x 50 1/8 inches (Amon Carter Museum of American Art)

[@singlesideman]

It's so POMO and clever, and ahead of its time in so many ways, and it's hilarious and adorable, but also really smart and informed. I just love it. It's one of my very favorite paintings ever.

[@Nolanthegardener]

I love how the tassels on the curtain are echoed in the drooping cherries on the tree.

[@victoriamilonas1942]

I love that you noticed this! Who would have thought Grant Wood had so much humor & insight in him. I had always dismissed him as a folk painter out of his proper time.

[@no_talking]

the tree itself looks like a cherry in droop as well

[@Sasha0927]

I'm vaguely acquainted with the story of Washington chopping down the cherry tree, but it was really enlightening to hear about how this depiction of it fits into history. Whereas we may see it as a light-hearted reminder of a familiar tale, I can imagine how powerfully meaningful this image was in its day. It was easy to catch the adult head of Washington on that little body, lol. I totally understand that choice. And I love the cherry tree being held by his father. I've never seen a tree represented quite like this and it's beautiful. Those clouds sure did look foreboding near the end. If not war, it's always something... Another video about Grant Wood autoplayed after this and I managed to hear that he was quite a prolific artist! A museum wanted to do a retrospective on his work beyond "American Gothic" (which I did recognize) and he's made over 120 pieces! I'd be interested to learn more about him. He had an amazing style. 🙂

[@edrandomed]

"A mixture of fact and fiction, of myth and folklore that wood has so beautifully brought together."."

[@Lambonius]

I've always seen this painting as another piece of evidence in the argument that Wood's subjects were satires (this argument is most famous regarding American Gothic.) In this painting though, there's something about the combination of the cartoonish rendering of Washington (adult head on child body,) the highlighting of the founding fathers as slave-owners, and the fact that Washington himself points directly to his axe, that makes the whole thing seem deliberately tongue-in-cheek. It always reads to me as though, contrary to the original story, Washington is actually NOT taking responsibility, but almost trying to blame the axe! Given the context of cultural conversation about the rise of fascism, could there be a subtle commentary here on the dangers of overly heroicizing our leaders?

[@arturocostantino623]

It’s really a very funny painting

[@peterjszerszen]

I never realized Washington had that hair even as a child.

[@haileyshannon7548]

The most famous story about telling the truth is a lie, that’s irony

[@melokulelekankumalo3402]

The very foundation of American History. Not as ironic as it should be revealing. Ubuntu Ma'at Ase'🙏🏿