(Anamosa, Iowa, 1892 - 1942, Iowa City, Iowa)
1937
Lithograph on paper
12 x 16 in. (30.5 x 40.6 cm)
Collection of the Akron Art Museum
Gift of Dr. James T. Villani
1979.63
Grant Wood, a celebrated artist synonymous with stylized, nostalgic depictions of rural America and its founding myths, crafted this poignant piece. While Wood is widely recognized for his iconic work American Gothic (1930), showcasing pure realism with a farmer and his daughter, he diverged from the abstract aesthetics of the 1930 avant-garde. Instead, Wood infused his art with humor, poignancy, and a touch of everyday strangeness, capturing the essence of average American life. 'Seed Time For Harvest' portrays a lone figure carrying a basket of corn against the backdrop of a shed and a sprawling farm landscape. The simplicity of the piece belies the challenges of corn cultivation and agriculture. It serves as a gentle reminder to appreciate the simple joys, like the food that may grace our tables this holiday week.