Deers Skull with Pedernal 1936

Editor: This is Georgia O'Keeffe's "Deer's Skull with Pedernal," painted in 1936 using oil paint. The skull's imposing presence is striking, especially set against that seemingly endless sky. What is your reading of this particular work? Curator: O'Keeffe repeatedly used the imagery of bones, particularly animal skulls, throughout her career, and her time in New Mexico clearly shaped that. What do you think a bleached skull signifies when placed within that landscape, the Pedernal mountain looming distantly? Editor: I initially thought it was about death, but the landscape feels so alive...so maybe a union of life and death? Curator: Precisely. It becomes a powerful symbol of the interconnectedness of life, death, and the land itself. O’Keeffe recognized the emotional and psychological weight of such imagery; bones represent both an ending, and the enduring presence of something that once was, right? Editor: Absolutely. It’s not just about physical remains, but also about memory and how we connect to the past. Curator: The skull acts almost as a vessel for the landscape; do you see how its emptiness frames our view, inviting us to contemplate our own place within the natural world? Consider, too, the stark contrast against the vast, blue sky – the symbol against eternity. What remains is essence. Editor: I never considered that the skull *frames* the background. I was caught up in its symbolism as just a marker for mortality. I see this differently now. Curator: And isn't that the power of art? It provokes thought and unveils unseen connections within and between our own human symbols. Editor: Definitely! Thanks; this gave me a whole new perspective to consider.