“Red Snapdragons,” an exquisite artwork by Georgia O’Keeffe, was crafted in 1923 with oil on canvas, characteristic of the Precisionism art movement. The piece measures 20 1/4 by 10 1/4 inches (51.4 x 26 cm) and falls under the genre of flower painting. Currently, it resides within a private collection, away from public exhibition.
The artwork captures the vibrancy and sensuality of red snapdragon flowers through a magnified perspective, a hallmark of O’Keeffe’s style. The composition is alive with rich hues of red and purple, complemented by soft yellow and gray gradients, which seem to radiate from the canvas and give the botanical subject a dynamic and almost abstract quality. The interplay of color and form conveys a sense of lushness and depth, inviting the viewer to a contemplative engagement with the subtle variations in shade and shape. O’Keeffe’s elegant rendering of the snapdragons demonstrates her celebrated ability to transcend the simple representation of floral subjects, imbuing them with a powerful presence and evocative potential that surpass their natural beauty.
