Chapter 02 · The method
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A working principle

The plain thing holds

Structure makes the story visible

Four repeated verticals turn a simple frame into a point of view.

Restraint carries the weight

Muted blue, wheat, and rust keep every mark close to the ground.

Details repeat with purpose

Window mullions, board seams, and the three-tined fork share one quiet measure.

The human stays in frame

Nothing performs; the work, the weather, and the gaze remain front and center.

This is the Grant Wood American Gothic (1930) design system, applied by Curio — a design-style library for AI agents. Full Grant Wood American Gothic (1930) guide → designbycurio.com/learn/grant-wood-american-gothic-1930