Artwork
Blue #1
Blue #1 is an unspecified painting by Georgia O'Keeffe. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1916, "Blue #1" is an early abstract painting by Georgia O'Keeffe now in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum. The canvas is dominated by a field of blue that shifts through a range of tones, punctuated by lighter white and yellow accents. The composition consists of rounded forms and flowing lines that suggest movement without depicting recognizable objects.
Subject & Meaning
The work does not reference specific figures or scenes; instead it relies on color and shape to evoke an emotional response. The varying shades of blue, together with the subtle highlights, generate a sense of depth and tranquility, while the abstract forms invite viewers to contemplate the interplay of hue and space.
Technique & Style
O'Keeffe employed a restrained palette, layering pigments to achieve a gradient from pale to deep blue. The application is smooth, allowing the shapes to merge seamlessly, while the occasional white and yellow strokes break the monochrome, adding contrast and visual interest. The painting reflects her early exploration of abstraction before she became known for floral and landscape subjects.
History & Provenance
Painted during O'Keeffe's formative years, "Blue #1" remained in private hands before being acquired by the Brooklyn Museum, where it has been displayed as part of the institution's early American modernist holdings. Its presence in the museum underscores the artist's experimental phase and contributes to the broader narrative of 20th‑century American abstraction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Georgia Totto O'Keeffe (November 15, 1887 – March 6, 1986) was an American modernist painter and draftswoman whose career spanned seven decades and whose work remained largely independent of major art movements.
