influence of zen buddhism on the art of georgia o'keeffe
TRANSCRIPT
Presenting…
The new book on Georgia O’Keeffe
The Concept:Long before Georgia O’Keeffe started
painting flowers or the great landscapes of the Southwest, she
explored total abstraction and monochrome palate beginning in
1912. She delved deep into the world of Zen Buddhist inspired art making to get to the very essence of thing, not an imitation, but the TRUTH...the Zen way
of seeing the world...
Georgia O’KeeffeJuly 19, 1915Georgia O'Keeffe during her time at the University of VirginiaPhotographer: Rufus W. Holsinger (1866–1930)
Georgia O’Keeffe: A Portrait –Hands and Watercolor by Alfred Stieglitz 1917
The book will explore her formative years…
Dead Rabbit and Copper Pot Georgia O’Keeffe, 1908
While studying at the Art Students League in New York, she won the League's William Merritt Chase still-life prize for her oil
painting. Despite the award, the traditional art education route left her searching for more inspiration…
The influence of Japanese Zen Buddhism began to permeate the Modern art
movement in France beginning in the 1860’s.
These artists began to paint The Buddha and explore new inspiration for their art:
~ Odilon Redon ~ Paul Gauguin
~ Vincent Van Gogh
The Buddha Odilon Redon, 1902
The Buddha Paul Gauguin, 1898
Young Buddha Odilon Redon, 1902
The Buddha and Nirvanna Odilon Redon 1902-1904
Masters of Japanese woodblock printing heavily influenced the modern artists working in Paris
Hokusai painting the Great Daruma in 1817
Cranes from Quick Lessons in Simplified Drawing
Vincent Van Gogh (R) copying Katsushika Hokusai (L)
Vincent Van Gogh often copied the Japanese Master, Katsushika Hokusai
Portrait of Père Tanguy, Vincent van Gogh, 1887
(note the Japanese paintings in background)
(2nd) Portrait of Père Tanguy, by Vincent van Gogh, 1887
(note the Japanese paintings in background)
The Great Wave off Kanagawa, an ukiyo-e woodblock print by Japanese artist, Katsushika Hokusai, c. 1830 -1833
Landscape by Zen Buddhist priest painter,
Sesshu Toyoc. 1500
Yoshitsune Falls, from the series Famous Waterfalls in
Various Provinces
Katsushika Hokusai, 1833
While studying at the Art Students League in NYC, Georgia attended the Auguste Rodin show of drawings in 1908 and meets
Stieglitz briefly. She will meet him again in 1916…
Nude by Auguste Rodin, c.1900 from Rodin Exhibition gallery 291, c. 1908
Stieglitz opened the first gallery in the U.S. to exhibit modern art. Gallery 291 was an apartment located at 291 5th Avenue. Photo c. 1908
Nude by Auguste Rodin, from Rodin Exhibition at 291
Photos of young Georgia O’Keeffe by photographer
(later husband)Alfred Stieglitz
Georgia O'Keeffe by Alfred Stieglitz,1918
In 1914 she began her studies with Arthur
Westley Dow and she begins to experiment with
a monochrome palate
No. 13 Special, 1916/1917
Charcoal on paper
She later incorporate the color blue into her
works.
Kandinsky wrote a book in 1912,
Concerning the Spiritual in Art, in
which he claims blue is the color of spirituality
Blue No. 2 by O’Keeffe, 1916
Blue No. 1Georgia O’Keeffe, 1916
Blue Lines, 1916 Georgia O'Keeffe
Georgia O’Keeffe meets Alfred Stieglitz again…
Stieglitz is “the father of modern photography”, founder of gallery 291,
founder of Camera Work photographic journal, and
her future husband.
Self-portrait, 1887
The turning point:In 1914 Georgia studies with her mentor, Arthur
Westley Dow at Teachers College at
Columbia University.
Arthur Dow, artist and arts educator
Arthur Westley Dow by A. Coburn 1903
Crater Lake, oil on canvas, 1919 Arthur W. Dow
Arthur W. Dow by A. Coburn 1903
Arthur Dow’s associate and mentor:
Ernest F. FenollosaHe became the expert on
Japanese art working between Japan and Boston University
Arthur W. Dow published his revolutionary bookComposition, 1899
It explored Zen Buddhist inspired Japanese art making.
Exercise No. 66 on “No-tan” by Arthur W. Dow for Composition
Evening Star , Georgia O’Keeffe 1917
Georgia O’Keeffe moves to Amarillo, TX and paints the Texas landscape
In 1916 her friend Anita Pollitzer sends Alfred Stieglitz her work without her knowledge. Stieglitz tries to show the works at 291
without her permission. This begins their friendship….
Light Coming on the Plains Georgia O’Keeffe, 1917
Stieglitz shows these photos of O’Keeffe in a very controversial exhibition in NYC. Stieglitz later
leaves his wife and child and they get married.
Photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe by Alfred Stieglitz in 1918.
Photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe by Alfred Stieglitz in 1918.
Lessons in harmony, balance and
uncovering the truth in nature lead O’Keeffe to see the world around
her in a new light.
Black Iris O’Keeffe, 1926
Abstraction White Rose by Georgia O’Keeffe, 1927
Learn more about Georgia O’Keeffe:
Book Available: Amazon Kindle
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Enjoy.
www.theartistorychannel.com
Sharon M. Fitzgerald, MA