O'Keeffe: More Than a Woman

As a whole, women artists have always fallen short to their male counterparts. Despite being regarded as a prominent American female artist, Georgia O’Keeffe’s works have been criticized throughout her lifetime and even after her death. Sexist art critics realize O’Keeffe’s significance in the art world, but nonetheless critique her paintings’ elements and form.  As a female, the idea of women’s inferiority to men is unmistakable. In the article, “Sexist Art Criticism: Georgia O'Keeffe-a Case Study,” the author uses various sources to demonstrate the claim that sexual criticism has persistently demeaned the work of O’Keeffe. Those who pay special attention to and value artwork may find this particularly offensive.

According to one such art critic, much of O’Keeffe’s early work has shown a womanly preoccupation with sex. For example, her flower enlargement paintings were referred to as “an uneasy selection of phallic symbols.” Her flower paintings, as stated by Samuel Kootz, represent O’Keeffe primarily as a woman and not as an artist, because they exhibit the female sexual anatomy. In her best efforts, O’Keeffe painted the flowers to illuminate their realistic detailing and characteristics, not to portray sexual imagery. How can a simple painting be transformed to such a sexist debate? It all begins with the ideas of other artists and art critics. Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings are world renowned, and not only show a woman’s strength, but also shows the strength of one individual to convey such expression and perfection.

The article further describes O’Keeffe as the “spokesman” for emotional women.  Confining O’Keeffe to her life as a woman, critics state that her paintings reflect a woman’s nature and her utter belief in womanhood. That is, her works suggest no traces of intellect or profound feelings. This claim demonstrates the stereotypical idea that men are held to a higher standard than women. Society suggests this notion in many aspects, but the professional world should be one of equality. O’Keeffe’s paintings show great intellect and are extremely meticulous. How many male artists pay attention to small details and paint with such pristineness, so that their viewers can get a real sense of the objects?

Clearly, female artists are continuously fighting an uphill battle against sexism. As explored through Georgia O’Keeffe’s works, critics have found fault in her style and attribute it to her gender. However, in most instances it seems certain that O’Keeffe’s work is merely a reflection of her own taste and does not correlate with any form of sexism. In actuality, Georgia O’Keeffe’s works merely symbolize her love for art and nature’s beauty through her paintings of flowers, landscapes, and cultural objects.