Petunia was the first flower Georgia O'Keeffe painted at a greatly enlarged scale.
O'Keeffe painted Petunia, No. 2 in 1924, making it an early example of the enlarged-flower style that became one of her signatures. The flower is presented close up, with broad shapes and carefully controlled color rather than a small botanical depiction.
She later explained that enlarging flowers allowed people to notice details they might otherwise overlook. This approach made a familiar natural subject feel monumental and abstract. Her flower paintings are often interpreted symbolically, but O'Keeffe repeatedly emphasized the visual experience of looking closely rather than prescribing a single meaning.
The enlarged-flower works are frequently associated with irises, poppies, and lilies because those series became especially famous. Petunia, however, has the distinction of being identified as her first flower painted in this enlarged manner. It marked an important step in the development of her best-known visual language.