Documented Aesthetic Argument Essay
I Know You Were Misunderstood: A Posthumous Letter to Georgia O’Keeffe
Dear Ms. O’Keeffe,
May I call you Georgia? I feel as if I know you and so it seems too formal to address you as miss, but I guess neither of these choices matters because you are dead, unfortunately. Despite that minor detail, I had to address you to let you know…I know. I recently spent some time with your painting, Red Canna, and to echo one of your critics, “The huge blossoms demand respect and admiration, and they captivate viewers, forcing those who stand close enough to feel their presence� (Richter). And after literally “feeling their presence� and getting to know the work, I had to let you know that your secret is safe with me.
I feel that you were sorely and irrevocably misunderstood. I think for decades, even during your lifetime when you were slowly becoming famous and making a name for yourself on the art scene, you were misunderstood. And you never said anything.
