American Gothic remains one of the most famous paintings in the history of American art. It is a primary example of Regionalism, a movement that aggressively opposed European [[abstract art]], preferring depictions of rural American subjects rendered in a representational style. The painting has become part of American popular culture, and the couple has been the subject of endless [[parody|parodies]]. Some believe that Wood used this painting to [[satire|satirize]] the narrow-mindedness and repression that has been said to characterize Midwestern culture, an accusation Wood denied. The painting is thought by most to be a glorification of the moral virtue of rural America. | American Gothic remains one of the most famous paintings in the history of American art. It is a primary example of Regionalism, a movement that aggressively opposed European [[abstract art]], preferring depictions of rural American subjects rendered in a representational style. The painting has become part of American popular culture, and the couple has been the subject of endless [[parody|parodies]]. Some believe that Wood used this painting to [[satire|satirize]] the narrow-mindedness and repression that has been said to characterize Midwestern culture, an accusation Wood denied. The painting is thought by most to be a glorification of the moral virtue of rural America. |