Poppies 

Georgia O'Keeffe painted Poppies with oil on canvas, magnifying the image of flowers so that they fill the entire picture plane. This painting encourages us to reflect on the social conditions that shaped artistic production in the United States during the early 20th century. The flowers in the image create meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. O'Keeffe's art was made during a period of significant social and cultural change in the United States. Her focus on natural forms can be seen as a response to the increasing industrialization and urbanization of American society. The painting is neither conservative nor progressive, but it does critique the institutions of art. O'Keeffe was a pioneering artist who challenged traditional notions of femininity and female sexuality. As an art historian, my interpretation of O'Keefe's work involves researching the social, cultural, and institutional contexts in which she worked, thus revealing the meaning of art as something contingent on the time in which it was made.