GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Painted in 1929, Yellow Cactus was inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe's first trip to the arid Southwest. Her flower paintings quickly became one of her recurring themes, leading to volumes of criticism and suggestive interpretation. The artist stated that her goal was to force the viewer to stop and study such small things as flowers, which she achieved through her use of vibrant colors and large-format blossoms.
Excerpt from
DMA label text, 2015.
NOTES
Created in 1929
Object File Reviewed
Fun Fact Source: Fort Worth Art Museum, Guide to the Painting and Sculpture Collection, 1983, np; quoted in Sotheby's American Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture sale, May 24, 1989, lot 217.
PROVENANCE INCOMPLETE
The artist, 1929-1953
The Downtown Gallery, New York (as agent for O'Keeffe), 1953
William E. Scott Collection, Fort Worth, Texas 1953
William E. SCott Foundation, Fort Worth, Texas
Gift of the above to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, 1963
Deaccessioned from the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 1989
Sotheby's American Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture Sale, 24 May 1989, lot 217.
Acquired by Hirschl & Adler at that sale
Sold to present owner in December 1993
From 1998: Dallas Museum of Art, the Patsy Lacy Griffith Collection, bequest of Patsy Lacy Griffith
Provenance found on Acquisition Justification record in Object File
Catalogue essays
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RELATED OBJECTS
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WEB RESOURCES
- Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe, NM~Learn more about Georgia O'Keeffe at the eponymous museum's website.
- Tate, London~This resource from Tate is a great way to introduce the work Georgia O'Keeffe to children.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- In a 1939 exhibition catalogue, Georgia O'Keeffe discussed her flower paintings: "A flower is relatively small. Everyone has many associations with a flower—the idea of flowers. You put out your hand to touch the flower—lean forward to smell it—maybe touch it with your lips almost without thinking—or give it to someone to please them. Still—in a way—nobody sees a flower really—it is so small—we haven't time—and to see takes times. If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it no one would see what I see because I would paint it small like the flower is small. So I said to myself—I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it—I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers."
TEACHING IDEAS
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Apply to objects where number equals 1998.217
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General Description
Painted in 1929, Yellow Cactus was inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe's first trip to the arid Southwest. Her flower paintings quickly became one of her recurring themes, leading to volumes of criticism and suggestive interpretation. The artist stated that her goal was to force the viewer to stop and study such small things as flowers, which she achieved through her use of vibrant colors and large-format blossoms.
Excerpt from
DMA label text, 2015.
Fun Facts
- In a 1939 exhibition catalogue, Georgia O'Keeffe discussed her flower paintings: "A flower is relatively small. Everyone has many associations with a flower—the idea of flowers. You put out your hand to touch the flower—lean forward to smell it—maybe touch it with your lips almost without thinking—or give it to someone to please them. Still—in a way—nobody sees a flower really—it is so small—we haven't time—and to see takes times. If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it no one would see what I see because I would paint it small like the flower is small. So I said to myself—I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it—I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers."
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe, NM~Learn more about Georgia O'Keeffe at the eponymous museum's website.
- Tate, London~This resource from Tate is a great way to introduce the work Georgia O'Keeffe to children.
Notes
Created in 1929
Object File Reviewed
Fun Fact Source: Fort Worth Art Museum, Guide to the Painting and Sculpture Collection, 1983, np; quoted in Sotheby's American Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture sale, May 24, 1989, lot 217.
PROVENANCE INCOMPLETE
The artist, 1929-1953
The Downtown Gallery, New York (as agent for O'Keeffe), 1953
William E. Scott Collection, Fort Worth, Texas 1953
William E. SCott Foundation, Fort Worth, Texas
Gift of the above to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, 1963
Deaccessioned from the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 1989
Sotheby's American Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture Sale, 24 May 1989, lot 217.
Acquired by Hirschl & Adler at that sale
Sold to present owner in December 1993
From 1998: Dallas Museum of Art, the Patsy Lacy Griffith Collection, bequest of Patsy Lacy Griffith
Provenance found on Acquisition Justification record in Object File
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
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Objects
number
Equals
1998.217
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object_notes_1_a-0097.xml.nores