An American Anthem 

Danny Galieote painted "An American Anthem" during the late 20th century. The work seems to offer a critical view of the mid-century American Dream. At first glance, the dancing couple suggests optimism and traditional values. But the gray scale suggests a melancholy mood, which resonates with other strange elements in the painting. The mid-century airplane and rocket evoke American industrial and military power, while the Grand Canyon landscape signifies the conquest of nature. Perhaps most bizarre of all are the falling dominoes. Are they meant to convey the idea of collapse? In order to interpret this painting, we might ask questions about Galieote’s relationship to mainstream American values. Was he celebrating them? Was he critiquing them? The answers may lie in archives of exhibition reviews, or perhaps in recorded interviews. What’s certain is that the meaning of this artwork emerges from its complex engagement with mid-century social and political conditions.