O'Keefe (Georgia O’Keeffe) 1924

Charles Demuth made "O'Keefe" with watercolor and graphite on paper, and what strikes me is how he’s used watercolor in such a structured way. The colors are muted, almost smoky, with a mix of greens, reds, and blues that create a sense of depth, but it's the angular forms that really catch your eye. The plant's leaves are rendered with sharp, almost architectural lines, and the fruit sitting on the table is simplified into geometric shapes. Look at the pot, see how it's built up of diagonal red lines. It's so different from O'Keefe's own sensual flower paintings. What fascinates me is the way Demuth is playing with representation and abstraction. He flattens space, but still suggests volume and form. It reminds me a bit of Juan Gris's cubist still lifes, but with a uniquely American sensibility. It's like he's saying, "Here's a flower, here's a fruit, but also here's an idea." Art isn't just about copying what you see.