Georgia O'Keeffe
Georgia O'Keeffe's Major Works
When an artist is as well-known as Georgia O'Keeffe, it is hard to single out individual pieces of work and label them "major works". In O'Keeffe's case, all her works are equally important and valuable; however, some are more recognized than others. O'Keeffe is known for her incredible construction of natural beauty by simply painting what we cannot see. Here you will find some elaboration and direct quotes regarding some of her works.
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Pelvis I (Pelvis with Blue), 1944: This painting is part of O'Keeffe's series of bone paintings and according to her, she said "...when I started painting the pelvis bones I was most interested in the holes in the bones— what I saw through them— particularly the blue from holding them up in the sun against the sky..."
Jimson Weed, 1936-7: In the 1930's, O'Keeffe painted at least another three jimson weed paintings, however, this one in particular is one of the biggest works of art she created. The flowers are placed so that they make a pinwheel-like shape and the colors she chose were simple. "When I think of the delicate fragrance of the flowers, I almost feel the coolness and sweetness of the evening," said O'Keeffe. This painting was commissioned by Elizabeth Arden, of the cosmetics empire for the exercise room of the new Arden Sport salon in New York.
Machu Picchu (Peruvian Landscape), 1956: O'Keeffe spent two months in Peru in the Spring of 1956. And what was O'Keeffe's reaction to the country? "I've never seen nature so absolutely terrifying. The mountains shrouded in evil, gray mist, the strange and remote Indians with terrible secrets in their eyes. Natural calamities everywhere." The mountains she described are the Andes which surround the ancient fortress city of Machu Picchu.
Cebolla Church, 1945: O'Keeffe would often drive through the village of Cebolla, New Mexico, near her home. O'Keeffe was moved by Santo Niño Church, the one in the painting. And when she painted it, she did so directly by emphasizing its remoteness and sheer simplicity. For O'Keeffe, she has "always thought it one of my very good pictures. I have though its message is not as pleasant as many others." But what is it that she painted in the window?
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Black Iris III, 1926: This painting gained a great amount of attention. A number of O'Keeffe's paintings (including Jack-in-the-Pulpit) were referred to as examples of sexual imagery. And while one can look at some paintings and see where critics are getting these ideas, they seem to be missing the point of the simple beauty the earth has to offer us. According to O'Keeffe, her paintings are nothing more than paintings. She could only get an iris flower for two weeks during the whole year from one florist. She would not leave her house for that time while the blossom opened so she could illustrate its beauty.