Grant Wood’s First School

Antioch School, outside of Anamosa, Iowa. Regionalist painter, Grant Wood was born and raised on a farm a few miles outside of Anamosa, near where the school still stands. His family’s farm doesn’t exist anymore, but apparently stood somewhere northwest of here (towards the left of the first photo), it’s all been turned into fields.  Grant Wood is best known for his 1930 painting American Gothic, which I sadly still have to see (it’s hanging in the Art Institute Of Chicago, and I shall make it a priority to go and look at it on my next visit to Chicago.

He visited Antioch school from 1897 to 1901 and according to his sister Nan Wood Graham he was already impressed by the landscape around him at this age, which of course should creep up repeatedly in his later artworks.

Antioch School, Anamosa, Iowa

Antioch School, Anamosa, Iowa

Antioch School, Anamosa, Iowa

Antioach School, Anamosa, Iowa

I don’t know what the purpose of this building standing next to the school-house was, but note the gothic styled window, clearly a nod to American Gothic.

Two views of the surrounding countryside from the school grounds, as they probably would have appealed to Grant Wood.

Anamosa, Iowa countryside

Anamosa, Iowa countryside

There will be a few more posts related to Grant Wood in the future on this blog, as he was one of the main reasons for visiting Iowa on my trip, so watch this space.

 

 

 

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