Only One

Georgia O'Keeffe, Only One, 1959, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., 1969.47.69
Georgia O'Keeffe, Only One, 1959, oil on canvas, 36 x 30 1⁄8 in. (91.5 x 76.4 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., 1969.47.69

Artwork Details

Title
Only One
Artist
Date
1959
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
36 x 30 1⁄8 in. (91.5 x 76.4 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
Object Number
1969.47.69
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1969.47.69

Artwork Description

In 1959, Georgia O'Keeffe embarked on a whirlwind world tour for three months. Visiting India, East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Rome, her main source of transportation was, for the first time, commercial airlines. Despite a fear of flying, O'Keeffe was deeply inspired by the new perspective of seeing the land from high above. From such great heights, the natural formations of the earth's surface blur, losing their active tension as they devolve into abstract patterns. In Only One, swaths of rusty oranges and shadowy violets are interrupted by ribbon-like blues echoing the relationship of the arid land and nourishing rivers below.

Works by this artist (1036 items)

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William H. Johnson, Breakdown with Flat Tire, ca. 1940-1941, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.587
Breakdown with Flat Tire
Artist
Dateca. 1940-1941
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, Chain Gang, ca. 1939, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.675
Chain Gang
Artist
Dateca. 1939
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, Ferry Boat Trip, ca. 1943-1944, oil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1011
Ferry Boat Trip
Artist
Dateca. 1943-1944
oil on paperboard
On view
William H. Johnson, Young Pastry Cook, ca. 1928-1930, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.693
Young Pastry Cook
Artist
Dateca. 1928-1930
oil on canvas
On view

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William H. Johnson, Portrait of a Woman in Profile, ca. 1944, recto: pen and ink and pencil on paper verso: pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.485R-V
Portrait of a Woman in Profile
Artist
Dateca. 1944
recto: pen and ink and pencil on paper verso: pen and ink on paper
Not on view
Joseph Cornell, On the Name of Susan, 1971, collage with ink, paint and pencil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1991.155.331
On the Name of Susan
Artist
Date1971
collage with ink, paint and pencil on paperboard
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Breakdown Scene, ca. 1940-1941, pen and ink with pencil or carbon transfer on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.483
Breakdown Scene
Artist
Dateca. 1940-1941
pen and ink with pencil or carbon transfer on paper
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Two Portrait Heads of a Woman, ca. 1930-1935, pen and ink and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.395
Two Portrait Heads of a Woman
Artist
Dateca. 1930-1935
pen and ink and pencil on paper
Not on view