Untitled 1973

Jay DeFeo, associated with the Beat Generation, made this photograph of a rose. She emerged as an artist in the male dominated art world of 1950’s and 60’s California. This image disrupts traditional representations of femininity. The rose is a charged symbol, often associated with beauty and womanhood, and here, it’s presented in stark monochrome, removed from its typical context. The choice to crop the flower tightly against a dark background transforms it. DeFeo’s image plays with light and shadow, creating something more ambiguous and powerful than sentimental. DeFeo once said that she was "married to her work". This photograph encapsulates her commitment to transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary, and offers an intimate glimpse into her artistic vision.