Black Iris III (1926) by Georgia O’Keeffe

Black Iris III - Georgia O'Keeffe - 1926

Artwork Information

TitleBlack Iris III
ArtistGeorgia O'Keeffe
Date1926
Art MovementPrecisionism

About Black Iris III

“Black Iris III,” a compelling work by artist Georgia O’Keeffe, executed in 1926, is an exemplar of the Precisionist movement and falls within the genre of flower painting. The artwork is a striking depiction of an iris, captured with a meticulous attention to detail that is characteristic of O’Keeffe’s style and of the Precisionist ethos.

The artwork presents a close-up view of an iris, with O’Keeffe rendering the petals in exquisite, sensuous detail that verges on abstraction. The contrast between the dark, velvety tones of the flower’s inner folds and the luminous whites and grays of its outer petals creates a dramatic visual effect. This intimate perspective on the flower fills the canvas, emphasizing the flower’s sculptural and organic form. The composition skillfully plays with light and shadow, giving the petals an almost tangible texture.

O’Keeffe’s brushwork removes the iris from its natural context and instead focuses on its form and the play of light across its surface, inviting the viewer to meditate on the flower’s beauty in a manner that transcends its botanical qualities. The artwork, through its precision and focus on the inner landscape of the flower, offers an almost spiritual reflection on nature’s inherent artistry.

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