Georgia O'Keeffe called the dark New Mexico landscape she painted near Santa Fe The Black Place.
The Black Place was a rugged geological site near Abiquiu, New Mexico, marked by dark hills, eroded formations, and strong contrasts of light and shadow. O'Keeffe began visiting and painting the region during the 1930s, when New Mexico had become a major source of inspiration.
She described the site as about 150 miles from Ghost Ranch, another location that became closely associated with her work. The Black Place did not present a conventional scenic view; instead, O'Keeffe isolated its shapes and tonal structure, turning the landscape into a powerful abstract composition.
A common mix-up is confusing The Black Place with The White Place. The White Place referred to a different area near Abiquiu, whose pale cliffs and bones appear in many paintings. O'Keeffe’s personal names for these places helped distinguish the landscapes that she repeatedly explored.