American Gothic

Gordon Parks 1942, printed later

Chrysler Museum of Art
Norfolk, United States

This gelatin silver print is of an African-American woman standing in front an American flag while holding a mop in one hand and a broom in the other. The photograph portrays Ella Watkins, who worked on a cleaning crew for the Farm Security Administration building in Washington, D.C.

Details

Title: American Gothic
Creator: Gordon Parks
Date Created: 1942, printed later
Physical Dimensions: Overall, Image: 11 13/16 × 8 7/16 in. (30 × 21.4 cm) Overall, Paper: 13 15/16 × 10 15/16 in. (35.4 × 27.8 cm)
Credit Line: Museum purchase, gift of the Rose Family Trust, Mrs. Dorothy Vaughn in memory of Sandra Lawrence, Anonymous in memory of Rosette B. Alford, Calvin and Lloyd, Inc., Mrs. Connie Coppage, Dr. Kimberly Kinsler, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Loumeau, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Wright, and Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. Photography Fund
Provenance: Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York City, New York; Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, Museum purchase, Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. Photography Fund, 2007
Type: Photograph
Medium: Gelatin silver print
Art Genre: Farm Security Administration
Art Movement: Social Realism
Art Form: Photography
Depicted Person: Ella Watkins
Depicted Topic: Portrait

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