What did the 'Lawrence tree' symbolize for O'Keeffe?

What did the 'Lawrence tree' symbolize for O'Keeffe?

• A. A purely decorative motif
• B. A source of inspiration and a connection to Lawrence's literary work
• C. A political symbol
• D. A random landscape element

Answer: (B)

In this symbol, a natural element is used as a doorway to another art form. The Lawrence tree isn’t just a tree in the landscape; it carries a literary association with D. H. Lawrence, signaling that the scene or form is a source of inspiration drawn from his writing. Naming the tree after Lawrence shows that O’Keeffe saw a connection between his literary ideas and her visual imagination, using the tree to bridge painting and literature. That’s why this symbol is best understood as a source of inspiration and a link to Lawrence’s literary work, rather than mere decoration, politics, or a random landscape element.

In this symbol, a natural element is used as a doorway to another art form. The Lawrence tree isn’t just a tree in the landscape; it carries a literary association with D. H. Lawrence, signaling that the scene or form is a source of inspiration drawn from his writing. Naming the tree after Lawrence shows that O’Keeffe saw a connection between his literary ideas and her visual imagination, using the tree to bridge painting and literature. That’s why this symbol is best understood as a source of inspiration and a link to Lawrence’s literary work, rather than mere decoration, politics, or a random landscape element.