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Georgia O'Keeffe Museum: Access O'Keeffe
Georgia O'Keeffe
Fishhook from Hawaii – No. 1, 1939
Courtesy of Brooklyn Museum of Art.
Image: okeeffe_CR960_fishhook-from-hawaii-no-1_863523.jpg
Georgia O'Keeffe
Fishhook from Hawaii – No. 1, 1939
Oil on canvas board, 18 x 14 inches
CR No. 960
Bequest of Georgia O'Keeffe
Oil on canvas board, 18 x 14 inches
Bequest of Georgia O'Keeffe
CR No. 960

A pink and yellow feathered fishhook occupies the upper left corner of the canvas. The hook is attached to a length of fishing line, which loops around itself several times over, forming a circle in the center of the composition. Behind the fishhook is a soft, pastel seascape in shades of blue and cream. The portions of the seascape seen through the circle are slightly distorted as though refracted by glass or light.

CR No. 960

Title (1999 Catalogue Raisonné)

Fishhook from Hawaii – No. 1

Source of title: Whitney Archive, Downtown Gallery Archive.

Alternate Title (1999 Catalogue Raisonné)

Fishhook from Hawaii – No. I

Source of title: Downtown Gallery label.

Fishhook from Hawaii #1

Source of title: Downtown Gallery label.

Fishhook from Hawaii, No. I

Source of title: Abiquiú Notebooks.

General Remarks

Whitney Archive indicates, "Exam. at Amer. Place, March 1946. . . . No sig. On backing: Label, '12. Fishhook from Hawaii – No. 1'" [not verified]. (Source: Lynes, 1999)

Technique

Oil Painting

Materials

Oil on canvas board

Artist (The), until 1986; Estate of Georgia O’Keeffe (The), Abiquiu, New Mexico, 1986-1987, Brooklyn Museum (The), 1987 (Source: Brooklyn Museum of Art, 2025)

Credits & Rights

© Brooklyn Museum of Art

Administrative Information

Version History

Core fields last updated 5/20/2026

Last verified by current collection 2025

Source System ID

8915

Other IDs

960, Catalogue Raisonné

Conservation

Information is from the most recently submitted report, please contact the current owner to verify updated details.
REPORT NOTES

Information provided for Access O'Keeffe by Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2025.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

Good

CONDITION NARRATIVE

The painting is in excellent, stable condition. The surface is pristine with very little damage. This is due to its having spent most of its life behind glazing (see 2017 email correspondence with Dale Kronkright). There is some minor abrasion to the paint layer at the edges that was caused by contact with the spacer and the frame rabbet. In addition, there is a small amount of dark material in the corners that was probably deposited by the metal frame components. These damages at the edges are minor and are not visible when the painting is framed. Accordingly, they were not addressed through treatment. The painting retains its original artist-designed frame with the original artist-designed spacer. These frame components should be preserved and treated as essential aspects of the work. The painting also retains its original artist-applied backing board. Although this backing board was made using acidic materials, it is stable and does not currently pose a threat to the condition or stability of the painting. The backing should also be preserved and treated as an essential aspect of this painting. Because the painting is in excellent condition and the paint has a very delicate impasto texture, glazing is recommended for protection against damage while on display.