“Seated Nude,” created by Georgia O’Keeffe in 1917, is a watercolor artwork exemplifying the Precisionism movement. This piece falls within the genre of nude painting (nu), portraying the human form with a blend of abstract and figurative elements.
The artwork presents a seated nude figure, rendered with delicate blotches of watercolor in hues of deep red and blue. The figure’s form is suggested rather than explicitly detailed, with the watercolor technique creating soft transitions and an ethereal quality. The overall composition is minimalist, using broad and fluid strokes to define the shapes. The background is largely negative space, allowing the vibrant colors of the figure to dominate the visual field. The Precisionist influence is evident in the precise and deliberate placement of colors, highlighting O’Keeffe’s innovative approach to depicting the human body.
