Dead Tree with Pink Hill 1945

Georgia O’Keeffe made this painting, Dead Tree with Pink Hill, with oil on canvas, and what grabs me is how she simplifies everything into these soft, undulating forms. It feels like a memory, hazy and dreamlike. The surface is built up with thin layers, and there’s a real tenderness in the way she applies the paint, almost like watercolor. Notice how the pink hill in the background isn’t just pink, but a mix of peach, yellow, and even a touch of green, creating this subtle glow. And then you have the dead tree itself, stark against the sky, with branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. It’s a really striking contrast between life and death, beauty and decay. This piece reminds me of Arthur Dove, with his simplified shapes and interest in capturing the essence of a place. But O’Keeffe brings her own unique sensibility to the landscape, making it feel both intimate and monumental. It’s a painting that invites you to slow down and contemplate the beauty of the natural world, even in its most barren forms.