Compare and Contrast: American Gothic, by Wood and Rural Rehabilitation Client, by Shahn
Though these two works were created just five years apart these two works related in time as well as content regardless of their differing medium as well as purpose. The painting American Gothic, by Wood (1892-1942) depicts farmers in 1930, before the Great Depression was fully underway. While the photo Rural Rehabilitation Client, by Shahn (1899-1969), depicts recipients of s federal aid program in Arkansas in 1935, at the Depression's lowest point. Taking the works together one might assume that the photo was taken as a study for the painting, with the only striking difference between them the placement of the wife to the left or to the right and the ages of the subjects in the works. The similarities are much more evident, as each work depicts a man and presumably his wife, in a rural setting wearing what was likely his and her best clothing and standing before their home. The participants all have similar facial expression, similar attire, and similar continence. As one looks more closely, clearly in the Wood painting the part
The husband has no such overcoat and the home in the background is not a refined painted structure but instead a rustic, likely dirt floor, log cabin. Wood gives a lasting impression of strength, perseverance and success, as farmers and partners. She is also wearing a simpler garment, with no refining broach. The medium, painting versus photograph lends a different feeling to each peace as one is capable of developing the idea of a refined character, with clean lines on the clothing and the home in the background, and the photograph is capable of showing the characters and their setting with the realistic wrinkles and folds of labor. Lastly, the farmer holding a pitchfork is also a difference that denotes empowerment. icipants have a more aged appearance and a more posh looking setting, with the picture of their nicely painted home with large decorative windows in the background. The simple reversal of the husband and wife, with the wife looking much less proud than her elderly comparison and slightly more dejected in the scene there is a sense that the works are meant to convey different realities and the unfolding of different economic and social events. Though all the figures are holding fast to their land, and likely their ideals there is a clear sense that the couple in the photo is desperate and dejected, standing as if afraid to touch, while the couple in teh paining is strong and resilient, together, even in the frame, with one overlapping the other as if they are one unit. Lastly the husband has no implement to denote empowerment and as his wife is standing with his arms limp by his sides. Though the painting is depicted as a realistic scene there is a style about it that denotes refinement and composure, while the disheveled appearance, despite the participants likely being dressed in their finest garb of the photograph denotes a more realistic and simpler setting. The visions of rural folk, as conveyed by Wood and Shahn are therefore different. The Shahn photograph representing two younger people, down on their luck and barely holding it together while holding fast to the last of what they have. One could assume that the photograph was meant to show the depravity of the era, and the dejected state of the figures in it, while the painting was meant to show the strength and wisdom of the participants, hence their age and obvious success. In the Shahn photograph the wife is standing to the right rather than the left, while in the other image the wife's glance, directed toward her husband denotes that she is with him and likely feels protected by him, while the wife in the contrasting photograph has a similar expression and is even facing int eh same direction it is away from her husband rather than toward him and her head is slightly farther down, almost as if she is trying to convey a feeling of dejection.
Common topics in this essay:
Client Shahn,
Shahn Wood,
,
Gothic Wood,
holding fast,
wife standing,
home background,
shahn photograph,
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Acceptance Essays
