The artwork titled “Deer’s Skull with Pedernal” was created by Georgia O’Keeffe in 1936. This piece is associated with the Precisionism art movement and falls under the landscape genre.
The artwork portrays a deer’s skull with large, branching antlers mounted against a stark, vertical black tree trunk. The skull is positioned prominently at the center of the composition, set against a clear blue sky that transitions into a mountainous horizon in the distance. The contrasting elements—the bright foreground skull and the deep hues of the tree against the soft sky—create a striking visual tension. The mountains in the background appear serene and almost abstracted, reflecting O’Keeffe’s unique style and affiliation with Precisionism, which is characterized by a sharp focus and clear, defined lines. The composition balances nature’s stark beauty and the poignant symbolism inherent in the skull and natural surroundings.
