Black Hollyhock - Blue Larkspur 1930

Georgia O'Keeffe painted Black Hollyhock - Blue Larkspur sometime in the first half of the 20th century. It’s a work made during a time of great change in the United States, shaped by both world wars, and the rise of American Modernism. O'Keeffe’s work is often read through the lens of her identity as a woman artist. But I think it also presents us with a fascinating exploration of the intersections of gender, nature, and the body. When viewed in relation to the cultural norms of her time, these close-up depictions of flowers challenge traditional representations of femininity. O'Keeffe once famously stated, "I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty." The magnified perspective invites viewers to confront the emotional and personal dimensions of nature. In this piece, a tension exists between the dark, almost brooding hollyhock, and the vibrant, vivacious larkspur. The contrast prompts reflections on how we perceive the natural world, and also how we assign symbolic meaning to color and form.