Washington, D.C. Government Charwoman (American Gothic) after 1942

Gordon Parks's "Washington, D.C. Government Charwoman (American Gothic)" is a powerful black and white photograph that references Grant Wood's iconic painting, "American Gothic". The image depicts a woman, a government charwoman, holding a broom in front of an American flag. The woman's stoic gaze and the starkness of the image create a sense of dignity and resilience. The juxtaposition of the flag and the charwoman's role highlights the realities of racial inequality and the contributions of Black Americans to the fabric of American society. This photograph was created after 1942, when Parks became a staff photographer for "Life" magazine, and is representative of his work which used photography to address social issues.