Lake George inspired many Georgia O’Keeffe paintings between 1918 and 1930.
O’Keeffe spent repeated periods at Lake George, a large lake in the Adirondack region of upstate New York. She visited the area with Alfred Stieglitz and his family, and its changing seasons, shoreline, trees, hills, and household surroundings became important subjects in her work.
Her Lake George paintings include landscapes, still lifes, leaves, fruit, and other natural forms. The series shows how O’Keeffe could transform familiar objects and scenery into simplified compositions with strong shapes and colors.
Lake George is sometimes overlooked because O’Keeffe is especially associated with New Mexico. However, her years in New York State came before her permanent move west and formed a substantial part of her artistic development. The lake’s name also appears directly in titles such as “Lake George, Autumn.”