The American Golfer
The American Golfer
Artist
Grant Wood
(1891 - 1942)
Date1940
MediumOil on board
Dimensions36 1/2 × 48 in. (92.7 × 121.9 cm)
Framed: 44 1/4 × 56 1/8 × 3 1/8 in.
Framed: 44 1/4 × 56 1/8 × 3 1/8 in.
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2014.33
Signedl.c., in red paint: GRANT WOOD - 1940
Accession number
2014.33
On View
Not on viewCollections
Label TextThe American Golfer is a portrait of Charles Campbell, a banker from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Wood agreed to the commission after spending a week at the banker’s home and concluding that the Campbell family “are extremely worthwhile citizens.” Campbell is portrayed at the end of a golf swing, watching the arc of his ball with an expression of hopefulness.
The background depicts an idyllic rural landscape in Wood’s native Midwest, rendered in his characteristic Regionalist style. The picturesque countryside with lush, rolling green fields, manicured trees, and an imposing colonial residence reflect idealized American values. The zig-zag line of the road, continued by the golfer’s raised arm and golf club, add a dynamic element to the composition.
In The American Golfer, Wood continued pursuing a subject he had explored throughout his career: aging. Campbell represents an older gentleman, confidently enjoying the fruits of his life and his passion for golf. The fall season, evoked by the colors of the leaves, alludes to the golfer’s age, and the fallen acorn hints at the continuing cycle of life.
Inscribedverso, in white chalk: [white figure drawing]
