Nan Wood Graham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nan Wood Graham
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Nan Wood Graham in 1977
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| Born |
Nan Wood
July 26, 1899 Anamosa, Iowa, United States
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| Died | December 14, 1990 (aged 91) Menlo Park, California, United States
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| Occupation | Artist, art teacher |
| Relatives | Grant Wood (brother) |
Nan Wood Graham (born July 26, 1899 – died December 14, 1990) was an American artist and art teacher. She was the sister of the famous painter Grant Wood. Nan is most famous for being the model for the woman in her brother's well-known painting, American Gothic (1930).
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Early Life and Family
Nan Wood Graham was born on July 26, 1899. Her family lived on a farm near Anamosa, Iowa. She had three older brothers, including the artist Grant Wood.
When Nan was just 16 months old, her father passed away. After this, she moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with her mother and brothers. Her family moved several times within Iowa during her mother's life.
Childhood and Education
As a child, Nan loved to paint. She especially enjoyed painting on glass. After her family's farm money ran out, her brother Grant helped support Nan and their mother.
Nan went to high school in Cedar Rapids. She then attended business college. After finishing college, she took art classes at night. She also worked as an assistant art supervisor in Cedar Rapids public schools.
Artistic Journey
In 1924, Nan married Edward Graham, who worked in real estate. Nan continued to create her own art. She enjoyed sewing and making collages from tissues. She also kept painting on glass.
Exhibitions and Recognition
In 1938, the Cedar Rapids Gazette newspaper wrote a story about Nan's designs and painted glass. She showed her artwork in art shows in Iowa and New York. Her animal paintings were often used on decorations and panels. Nan even wrote a story about herself for Coronet magazine.
Later Years
Nan and her husband traveled across the United States. Later, they traveled all over the world. They decided to live in Riverside, California. Edward started a real estate business there.
After her husband died in 1967, Nan moved to a house near their old one. She created about 20 scrapbooks about her brother Grant's life. These scrapbooks were later saved by the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution.
In 1984, Nan's eyesight began to fail. She moved to a nursing home. She passed away there on December 14, 1990. In 1993, her book, My Brother, Grant Wood, was published after her death.
American Gothic Painting
In 1928, Nan's brother Grant Wood came back from a trip to Munich, Germany. He felt inspired to paint a picture of a small house in Eldon, Iowa. This painting became one of the most famous American artworks.
Modeling for the Painting
Nan posed as the woman in the painting. Their family dentist, Byron McKeeby, posed as the man. Many people who saw the painting thought the couple was married. However, Nan said her brother wanted it to show a farmer and his daughter.
Grant even stretched Nan's face in the painting. He did this so people wouldn't easily recognize her. When the painting was first shown, some local farmers thought they were being made fun of. But when they learned Nan had posed for it, they became fans.
See also
In Spanish: Nan Wood Graham para niños
