A Walk in the Shadow of the Cliffs

Georgia O’Keeffe was no stranger to social distancing and found inspiration in her remote surroundings during times of solitude. The following letter from Georgia O’Keeffe to Alfred Stieglitz^[1], was written from her property in Northern New Mexico. As she often does, O’Keeffe shares stories of the “faraway” high desert world and writes about her daily doings – paintings she is working on, tasks she is busy with around her property, and books she is reading.

Georgia O’Keeffe to Alfred Stieglitz | Abiquiú, New Mexico
Postmarked June 28, 1943

…Yesterday I got up with the sun and walked a long walk in my pajamas—out toward the cliffs—a little way out across the road I came to a snake—a rattler—curled in a fine round coil—very handsome—I thought—should I kill it—so beautiful—I looked out toward the cliffs—all in shadow—the sun doesn’t strike into this part of the cliffs till it is up for over an hour—the morning so fresh and cool and still—I couldn’t spoil it killing the snake—so I went on and left him—I had a fine walk—all in the shadow of the cliffs till almost home I climbed up and over a break in some high hills to the sun and down from there through the red hills home—I had picked some very dry sunflowers up on the high break in the hills and three of my very delicate four petaled flowers that I’ve been painting—I usually carry water out with me when I intend to pick the white ones otherwise they die too soon—

Then after breakfast I read a little book I’ve wanted to read for years “The Book of Tea”^[2]—by a Japanese who seems to have been a pupil or friend of Fenollosa^[3]—I enjoyed it—you would too I think—worked in the afternoon—in the evening walked again—out toward the long Western Mesa—its top the most beautiful line around here—Maria^[4] and my favorite cat along—I think the cat had a particularly good time. It is cloudy and threatening—someday I suppose it will rain—it always has before—

I hope you are not too hot

—I am feeling very well

A quiet kiss to you—.

Source: Letter from Georgia O’Keeffe to Alfred Stieglitz, June 28, 1943. Letters to Alfred Stieglitz, 1933-1944, undated. Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. © Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. [MS-OKAS-60]

For a closer look:

Check out O’Keeffe’s expressive handwriting in photos of the original letter below. Read the full transcript on the Museum’s Collections Online.

Georgia O’Keeffe often painted the landscapes near her home in Ghost Ranch including Red Hills with White Flower, 1937 shown below.

O’Keeffe owned various editions of The Book of Tea, including this 1962 copy from her personal library.

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[1] Alfred Stieglitz (1864-1946) was an American photographer and modern art promoter who was married to Georgia O’Keeffe.

[2] The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo. O’Keeffe owned more than one copy.

[3] Ernest Fenollosa (1853-1908) was an American art historian of Japanese art, professor of philosophy and political economy at Tokyo Imperial University.

[4] Maria Chabot (1913-2001) was an American writer, rancher, and friend of Georgia O’Keeffe. She was the general contractor for O’Keeffe’s house in Abiquiú, New Mexico.