Farms and Barns by Famous Artists

American Gothic (1930), Grant Wood

Once again, I’m on a quest for paintings of a certain subject – farms and barns. My first thoughts went to the classic farm couple in Grant Wood’s American Gothic. Although it is one of the most recognizable American paintings, I wanted to search for something less kitschy, like his Haying landscape (below).

Haying (1939), Wood

The buildings in the distance and the long expanse of hillside immediately reminded me of another artist’s most famous painting – Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth. 

Christina's World (1948), Wyeth

Wyeth’s like an actor being typecast for a specific role, who struggles to be recognized for his other works, and is forever remembered for a single character. You may also recall his obsession with Helga, who was his most often painted model.

Snap the Whip (1872), Winslow Homer

Continuing with another American artist, Winslow Homer, one of his most recognizable works is Snap the Whip. I like everything about this painting from the movement of the running figures, to the beautifully rendered background, framed by the textured clouds and wildflowers. Though probably more famous for his dramatic Maine seascapes, this one is my favorite.

A Temperance Meeting (1874), Winslow Homer

Homer’s A Temperance Meeting (or Noon Time) captures a young farm couple on a sunny day. You can feel the warmth of the sunshine. The shadowing on the woman reminds me of figures in Edward Hopper paintings, whereas the background is more like that of an Impressionist like Van Gogh or Pissarro. Hopper was heavily influenced by the Impressionists but made only one trip to France.

Here are three very different Edward Hopper paintings: 

Farm Building with Haywagon (1927), Hopper

Farm Building with Haywagon (1927) is recognizably Hopper with its simple shapes and contrasting areas of color. His early work was as an illustrator and he chose watercolor as his medium, later turning to oils for his most famous works.

Barn and Silo, Vermont (1927), Hopper

Also a watercolor, Barn and Silo, Vermont (1927) mimics the detail found in the buildings painted by Andrew Wyeth, making the focus on the structure rather than the surrounding landscape.

Cobb's Barn and Distant Houses (1931), Hopper

Cobb's Barn and Distant Houses (1931), an oil painting, seems a bit of a departure from Hopper’s clean and efficient moody scenes. I love how he has captured the depth of the scene with the shadows cast by the sunshine and clouds overhead. It is meant to reflect the abandoned farms of the 1930s depression era. Apparently, Hopper was renting one of the houses while painting this scene.

Author Heidi Vance describes Hopper’s interest in architecture in her article,
Edward Hopper: Get to Know The King Of American Realism In 15 Facts. 

“His works of buildings tell a similar tale to his paintings where humans are present. These structures become a kind of portraiture with an unseen human presence. The dialogue between the atmosphere and the architecture mirror Hopper’s dialogues between humans and the environments they occupy. The underlying theme of Hopper’s work is the interconnectivity between each element within his paintings. His focus on architecture allowed him to improve upon manipulating environments to their fullest potential in terms of establishing an ambiance.”

Hopper was heavily influenced by European (French) artists -- Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and Vincent Van Gogh – which helped him to “expand his color palette and effectively depict light”.

Here are two fine examples of farm buildings painted by Van Gogh and Pissarro:

Farmhouse in Provence (1888), Van Gogh

In 1888, Van Gogh painted Farmhouse in Provence (a.k.a. Entrance Gate to a Farm with Haystacks) while in Arles, Provence. In typical Van Gogh style, the landscape is dominated by yellows. I particularly enjoy the colors in the playful sky. The dark, rectangular gate is highlighted by the super bright road. And those haystacks loom larger than the buildings.

Farm at Montfoucault (1874), Pissarro

Camille Pissarro is my favorite Post-Impressionist. I like his use of contrasting oranges and greens and the juxtaposition of the colors (nearing Pointillism). I also appreciate how he has framed his work, leading your eye beyond and into the background.

Notice how all of these artists, with the exception of Hopper, include a figure in their farm landscapes.

Nellie's Barn, Warren Kimble

In response to a reader's comment, I'd like to add two more artists. They are Grandma Moses and Warren Kimble. I blogged about Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses (1860-1961) in my post, Master Artists -- Inspired Late Bloomers and Resilient, Active Seniors. Warren Kimble, also known for his folk art of animals, rural landscapes and buildings of Brandon, Vermont, has illustrated children's books and created contemporary art with raised texture.

You may want to read the Rutland Herald's article, A new journey: Warren Kimble goes contemporary, to see what the artist has been up to in this century.