Series I, No. 3 1918

Georgia O'Keeffe made 'Series I, No. 3' with oil paint, a medium she returned to throughout her life. Look at the energy in this thing! See how O'Keeffe coaxes a swirl of colours, from deep teal to sunset yellow, all meeting in one energetic dance? I imagine her, brush in hand, leaning in close, coaxing the paint into these curving forms. Each brushstroke, a deliberate act, a conversation between her and the canvas. I love the way she lets the colours bleed and blend, creating these soft transitions. It reminds me of other paintings from the period like those of Marsden Hartley, in that there’s an emphasis on rhythm, repetition, and a certain kind of spiritual quest. You can almost see the echoes of other painters in her work, a constant back-and-forth across time and space. Ultimately, a painting like this isn’t about answers. It's about embracing uncertainty, allowing for a multitude of readings, and seeing the world in a fresh, imaginative way.