Wartime Texas Letters of Georgia O'Keeffe (American Wests)

In 1912, at the age of 24, Georgia O'Keeffe boarded a train in Virginia and headed west to the prairies of the Texas Panhandle, where she would take a position as an art teacher for the newly organized Amarillo Public Schools. Subsequently, she joined the faculty at what was then known as West Texas State Normal College (now West Texas A&M University). Despite her young age, O'Keeffe was already a thoroughly independent-minded woman, and she maintained an active correspondence with her future husband, photographer Alfred Stieglitz, and other friends back east during the years she lived in Texas.

Amy Von Lintel brings to readers the collected O'Keeffe correspondence, along with added commentary and analysis, shedding fresh light on a period of the artist's life that she characterizes as "some of the least appreciated in the vast O'Keeffe scholarship," but also as "a time when she discovered her own voice as a young, successful, and independent woman . . . a dedicated faculty member at a brand-new college . . . a vibrant social butterfly . . . a progressive woman who spoke her mind and fought for her beliefs to be heard."

While the work features selected paintings by O'Keeffe that support the narrative, the focus is on the artist's own words. By doing so, Von Lintel aims to allow O'Keeffe's voice to "emerge as a powerful witness of her own life, but also of western America in a pivotal moment of its development." The result is an important new examination of one of our most beloved artists during a time when she was in the process of discovering her future identity.

The collected O'Keeffe correspondence reveals a multifaceted portrait of the artist, as she navigated her new surroundings and professional challenges in Texas. Her letters reflect her growing confidence, independence, and artistic vision, as she engaged with the rapidly changing landscape and culture of the American West. Through these writings, readers gain a unique insight into the personal and creative evolution of this iconic figure.

Von Lintel's analysis provides valuable context, highlighting the significance of this period in O'Keeffe's life and the broader historical and social currents that shaped her experiences. By emphasizing the artist's own voice, the work offers a fresh perspective on O'Keeffe's development, challenging the traditional narratives that have often overlooked or underappreciated this formative chapter.

The book's focus on O'Keeffe's words, rather than solely her paintings, allows for a more nuanced and intimate understanding of the artist's inner world and her engagement with the world around her. Readers are invited to witness the unfolding of O'Keeffe's creative and personal journey, as she grappled with the challenges and opportunities of her new environment and forged her distinctive artistic identity.

Through this exploration of O'Keeffe's life and correspondence, Von Lintel's work provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing scholarly discourse on this seminal American artist. By highlighting a lesser-known period in O'Keeffe's life, the book enriches our understanding of her multifaceted legacy and the complex interplay between her personal experiences, artistic evolution, and the broader cultural and historical contexts that shaped her remarkable career.

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