Skip to main content
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum: Access O'Keeffe
Georgia O'Keeffe
Narcissa's Last Orchid, 1941
Image: okeeffe_CR1018_narcissas-last-orchid_794137.jpg
Georgia O'Keeffe
Narcissa's Last Orchid, 1941
Pastel on paper, 21 3/4 x 27 1/2 inches
CR No. 1018
Pastel on paper, 21 3/4 x 27 1/2 inches
CR No. 1018

A large flower with white and pink petals dominates the composition. The flower's white petals have rippling, textured edges and contrast with a dark brown background.

CR No. 1018

Title (1999 Catalogue Raisonné)

Narcissa's Last Orchid

Source of title: Whitney Archive, Downtown Gallery Archive, Abiquiú Notebooks, 1941 New York (An American Place–O'Keeffe) exhibition checklist, backing inscription.

General Remarks

Whitney Archive notes backing inscription and indicates, "inscription in ink in the margin 'This pastel is No. 14'." Title refers to Narcissa Swift (Mrs. Clinton) King, a friend of the artist. O'Keeffe and Narcissa Swift drove from Chicago to New Mexico in June 1940. (Source: Lynes, 1999)

Inscriptions

Verso: inaccessible. Backing: 1. "Narcissa's Last Orchid – 1941 / (pastel) / by Georgia O'Keeffe" (Alfred Stieglitz, Label: printed, An American Place exhibition, black ink) 2. "Pastel – Handle with Greatest care! / Do Not Jar / this painting is No. 14 / Pastel Keep right side up / and don't shake if possible" (Alfred Stieglitz, black ink) (Source: Lynes, 1999)

Technique

Pastel

Materials

Pastel on paper

(An American Placce, New York, NY); David Hunter McAlpin, Princeton, New Jersey, 1942 (Source: Lynes, 1999)

Credits & Rights

© Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

Administrative Information

Version History

Core fields last updated 6/10/2026

Source System ID

8954

Other IDs

1018, Catalogue Raisonné