Kokopelli with Snow 1942

Georgia O'Keeffe painted this Kokopelli, in what looks like watercolor, creating a snowy scene, or maybe a dreamscape. It's as if she's sharing a fleeting vision. The way O'Keeffe built this image from thin washes of color gives the piece an ethereal quality. Look closely, and you can see each layer building upon the last, giving the piece a wonderful sense of depth and atmosphere. See how the circular dabs of white float above the mask, suggesting snowflakes, or stars, or something else entirely? I love how the red feathers bursting from the top of the mask provide a striking contrast to the cool blues and whites of the background. It's that bold red that really brings the painting to life. You can see O'Keeffe's interest in the spiritual and cultural symbols of the American Southwest here, something that really links her to Marsden Hartley and other artists who explored similar themes.