The Real-Life Models of 'American Gothic'

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Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, it is one of the most famous paintings by an American artist.  After an inspiration-seeking trip to Iowa, artist Grant Wood created American Gothic, an oil on beaverboard painting of a home with "the kind of people I fancied should live in that house".  

The models?  None other than the people in this rare photo from the early 1940's taken during a showing of the painting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Wood first created it 12 years prior.

Left is Wood's sister, Nan Wood Graham.  Right is Dr. Byron McKeeby, Wood's dentist.

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Fun Fact:  Contrary to popular opinion, the painting isn't meant to portray a 1930's husband & wife, but rather a father & daughter.