Photograph by Ed Pollard, Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II digital slr-2008.

American Gothic

Artist Gordon Parks (American, 1912-2006)

Date1942, printed later

MediumGelatin silver print

DimensionsOverall, 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)
Overall, Mat: 20 × 16 in. (50.8 × 40.6 cm)

ClassificationsPhotography

Credit LineMuseum 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

Object number2007.17.1

Terms

Woman
African-American Artist
American flag
Broom
Mop
cleaning
Custodian
Black and White
Washington, D.C.

On View

Not on view

DescriptionThis 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.

Label TextGordon Parks American (1912-2006) American Gothic (Ella Watson), Washington, D.C., 1942 Gelatin-silver print, printed later 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 2007.17.1 The photograph portrays Ella Watkins, who worked on a cleaning crew for the Farm Security Administration building in Washington, D.C.