Apple Family II 1920

Georgia O'Keeffe painted these apples—these gorgeous, bulging, surreal fruits—probably in her studio, thinking about family, life, and the tactile nature of paint. I love the way the apples aren't just apples; they're like stand-ins for people, each with its own personality and curves. The reds and yellows practically vibrate, and the way she blends those colors—it’s so smooth, almost like skin. Look at how she defines the form of each fruit with subtle gradations of color, almost inflating them with light and volume. I can almost feel O'Keeffe's hand moving across the canvas, coaxing these shapes into being. Her work always reminds me that artists are in this never-ending conversation with each other. It’s inspiring to see how they take simple objects and transform them into something monumental, pushing the boundaries of how we see and feel.