Puneet Varma (Editor)

Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue

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Artist
  
Georgia O'Keeffe

Genre
  
Abstract art

Media
  
Oil paint

Dimensions
  
1.01 m x 91 cm

Created
  
1931

Support
  
Canvas

Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue wwwmetmuseumorgtoahimagesh3h352203jpg

Similar
  
Georgia O'Keeffe artwork, Oil paintings

Art bros cow s skull red white and blue georgia o keeffe


Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue is a painting by American artist Georgia O'Keeffe. The painting depicts a cow skull centered in front of what appears to be a cloth background. In the center of the background is a vertical black stripe. On either side of that are two vertical sripes of white laced with blue. At the outside of the painting are two vertical red stripes.

O'Keeffe created the painting in 1931. It is done in oil on canvas and measures 39 7/8 x 35 7/8 inches. (101.3 x 91.1 cm). It is part of the Alfred Stieglitz Collection (1952) of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Around the time of the painting's creation, American artists, musicians, and writers were interested in identifying a uniquely American style and subject matter for their work. They sought out themes for the "Great American Novel" or "Great American Story". O'Keeffe offered a different opinion about what images could best symbolize America.

In this case, O'Keeffe used a weathered cow's skull to represent the enduring spirit of America or depicting Jesus Christ on the cross with touches on the strong ties to Christianity. The painting prominently displays the three colors of the American flag behind the cow skull. Although she said made it as a joke on the concept of the "Great American Painting," the picture has become a quintessential icon of the American West.

References

Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue Wikipedia