Farm Scene

Mattie Lou O'Kelley, Farm Scene, 1975, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1998.84.28
Copied Mattie Lou O'Kelley, Farm Scene, 1975, oil on canvas, 2436 14 in. (61.092.1 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1998.84.28

Artwork Details

Title
Farm Scene
Date
1975
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
2436 14 in. (61.092.1 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr.
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Keywords
  • Figure group
  • Landscape — farm
  • Animal — dog
  • Animal — bird — chicken
  • Animal — cattle
  • Architecture Exterior — farm — barn
  • Architecture Exterior — domestic — farmhouse
Object Number
1998.84.28

Artwork Description

Mattie Lou O'Kelley painted images inspired by her memories of growing up on a Georgia farm. She created colorful scenes in which the sun is always shining, the people are happy, and the crops are plentiful. O'Kelley left school when she was still young to help on the family farm. Although life was difficult, she chose only to highlight the good memories in her paintings. The perfectly shaped hills, trees, and clouds in Farm Scene create a landscape that is too good to be true.