Drawing XIII 1915

This is Drawing XIII by Georgia O'Keeffe, a charcoal on paper work housed here at the Met. Immediately, one notices the stark contrast, the interplay of organic and geometric forms. Observe the rounded, clustered shapes alongside the jagged, lightning-like lines. These are not merely forms, but vessels of primal energies. The cluster could be a symbolic representation of life itself. The jagged line, a disruption, perhaps, that is suggestive of a force that both divides and illuminates. Consider the ancient Greek depictions of Zeus wielding his thunderbolt – a symbol of divine power and chaos – but here, the jagged line is softened, almost internalised. This motif echoes through time in different contexts. There is a palpable tension in the drawing – a psychological drama played out in charcoal. The image pulls us into a realm where forms evoke subconscious desires and fears, engaging us on a visceral level. The dichotomy between the forms emphasizes the non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols. A symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.