American Gothic by Grant Wood

Wood was driving around the town of Eldon, Iowa together with a colleague, looking for inspiration for his next painting. The pair drove past a small white house built in the architectural style known as Carpenter Gothic, and Wood decided to paint the house, which he described as 'very paintable'. He included two figures in front of it, based on who he 'fancied should live in that house'. The result was this iconic painting of an American farmer and his daughter, which has been referenced countless times in popular culture. It is arguably one of the most famous American paintings of all time.