American Gothic, first reading

The first thought I have from reading American Gothic is that the couple is Puritan. Though this is a stereotype, they appear very conservative in dress. The woman is also set behind the man and is looking at him for direction. It appears she is deferring to him, the head of household.
The painting reminds me of pictures from American western settlers. They were photographed in front of their homes with their families and prized possessions. Nineteenth century people did not smile in photos. The only possession the two have in the picture is a pitchfork. This would be a statement on his part saying that he only valued hard work. The couple is elderly with a large house and barn in the background suggesting they are well off financially and have a lot of prized possessions to show off.

This is my favorite parody of American Gothic because it gives Miss Piggy the dominant role in her relationship with Kermit the Frog.