Anthurium
Georgia O'Keeffe
1923
- YEAR:1923
- MEDIUM:Oil on canvas
- DIMENSIONS:52.1 x 41.6 cm
Introduction
Georgia O’Keeffe, known as “The Mother of American Modernism” earned her fame in the early 20th century for her floral-themed paintings. Drawing inspiration from photographic framing, she enlarged and cropped portions of anthurium, presenting the natural forms of the plant through an abstract and concise composition. By delicate color gradients, her painting conveyed the waxy luster of spathe, while the strong red-green contrast, with details omitted, imbued the flowers with a sense of mystery and vitality beyond their physical appearance. O’Keeffe intended to reflect the vastness of nature through a single small flower, and her exploration of the spiritual essence behind flowers foreshadowed her later turn toward images of the deserts, bones, and landscapes of New Mexico.
