The artwork titled “Manhattan” was created by the artist Georgia O’Keeffe in 1932. It is part of the Precisionism art movement and falls under the genre of cityscape. This movement was known for its focus on industrialization and modernization, often depicting urban and industrial scenes with precise, clean lines and minimal detail, which can be observed in this particular cityscape.
The artwork presents a stylized view of Manhattan’s urban landscape with towering structures that exhibit a sharp contrast of geometric forms. The composition is marked by the interplay of vertical and horizontal lines creating a rhythmic architectural pattern representative of high-rise buildings. O’Keeffe’s color palette in this piece is vibrant yet retains a sense of harmony through the selective placement of color blocks. Notably, amid the modernist architectural elements, O’Keeffe incorporates organic forms, such as flowers, which appear in stark contrast to the man-made urban environment. The inclusion of these natural elements adds an unexpected yet compelling juxtaposition to the otherwise stark cityscape. The result is a painting that is both an idealized representation of New York’s iconic skyline and an intimate expression of O’Keeffe’s personal experience and interpretation of the city’s essence.
