Georgia O'Keeffe: Abstraction

by Barbara Haskell (Editor), Elizabeth Hutton Turner (Contributor), Barbara Buhler Lynes (Contributor)

Although Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) has long been regarded as a central figure in 20th-century art, the abstract works she created throughout her career have remained critically and popularly overlooked in favor of her representational subjects. Beginning with charcoal drawings made in 1915, which were among the most radical creations produced in the United States at that time, O’Keeffe sought to transcribe pure emotion in her work. While her output of abstract work declined after 1930, she returned to abstraction in the 1950s with a new vocabulary that provided a precedent for a younger generation of abstractionists. By devoting itself to this largely unexplored area of her work, Georgia O’ Abstraction is an overdue acknowledgment of her place as one of America’s first abstractionists. In addition to rethinking O’Keeffe’s role in the development of a uniquely American abstract style, this book chronicles the shifts and changes in subject matter and style over the span of her long career. It adds significant new insight into her life, reproducing excerpts of previously sealed letters written by O’Keeffe to photographer and gallerist Alfred Stieglitz, whom she married in 1924. These previously unpublished letters, along with other primary documents referenced by the authors, offer an intimate glimpse into her creative method and intentions as an artist.

Genres: Art

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book exploring O'Keeffe's origins of abstraction in her work which began her artistic career and came full circle to end it. The book also explores her artistic techniques and discusses at length O'Keeffe's personal artistic philosophy regarding speaking with images rather than words - a viaduct of communication that she preferred and is inherent in understanding feeling her paintings as opposed to just seeing.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading "Georgia", I wanted to revisit O'Keeffe's work. I checked out everything I could find at my library. I especially wanted to see the abstracts because the artist stopped painting these works due to art critics improperly labeling them as sexual. What a shame for all of us. I find Georgia O'Keeffe more and more fascinating the more I read about her. Three more books sitting at home. More reviews to follow.

[Cameron Toney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous. This book is a dive into O'Keeffes abstract work. The work that originally brought her to prominence was abstract, and even he more figurative works were rich with abstract ideas.
This book is full of both beautiful pictures, and really interesting reading. I would recommend this for anyone, from the O'Keeffe enthusiast, to someone who only knows her as someone who painted flowers. This shows a lot of the ideas in her work.

[Hale Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great photos, good essays, wonderful additional material including a detailed O'Keeffe timeline. photos by Stieglitz, and some incredibly passionate, moving letters from O'Keeffe to Stieglitz. A complete revelation.

[Theresia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw "Above the Clouds I" and "III" in Chicago and been her fan ever since. And yes, flowers. Totally not thinking of something else. Now, excuse you, Georgia, but I'm gonna climb the ladder, sit on my roof, and pretend it's New Mexican sky I'm looking at.

Best part of this book: her correspondence with Stieglitz.

Better than best part of this book: everything.

[Gillian Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of Georgia O'keeffe and have read a few books on her art. If you can only own or read one book on the subject, grab this one, for its complete coverage of her art in various periods and her beautifully written letters. She is just so rare!

[Bill Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never been a big fan of Georgia O'Keefe's work, but this book really made me reconsider some of my opinions. The essays were good and the reproductions are very nice, a great deal of which I was not familiar with.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible! Her artwork leaves me without words!