I-Special 1916

Georgia O'Keeffe created this drawing with graphite, resulting in soft, blurry edges that create a dreamy atmosphere. It's like she's inviting us into a meditative space. The textures are incredible, she coaxes so much variety from a monochrome palette. The smudging of the graphite creates depth, almost like looking through a fogged-up window, and that single line running down the center – it's like a tear, or a path. The dark pool at the top is dense and mysterious, like a gateway or an otherworldly eye. It reminds me a bit of some of the surrealist drawings of the period, like Remedios Varo, but in a more pared-down, American vernacular. There's a quiet strength to it. O'Keeffe’s work always seems to be opening to multiple readings, rather than closing them down.