Radiator Building – Night, New York 1927

Georgia O'Keeffe made "Radiator Building – Night, New York" with oil on canvas, conjuring a skyscraper in the dark. I love how she used a limited palette and a reductive approach to the subject matter. It's all about flat planes of colour, and the tension between light and dark. Up close, you can see how the paint is applied smoothly, almost like she's building up layers of atmosphere. The texture is subtle, allowing the contrasts in colour to do the talking. Look at the way she renders the windows, each one a small rectangle of light amidst the darkness. This evokes the feeling of urban life, the sense of countless stories unfolding within the building. O'Keeffe strips away the details, reducing the building to its essence. This makes me think of another painter, Agnes Martin, who worked with abstraction to create a sense of quiet contemplation. Like Martin, O'Keeffe invites us to slow down and appreciate the simple beauty of form and light.