About the Work

Red Rose is a serigraph created in 1985 by American artist Lowell Nesbitt. This print showcases the style and subject for which Nesbitt became renowned: oversized, realistic depictions of flowers. Like artist Georgia O'Keeffe, Nesbitt approached his botanical subjects with academic seriousness. He once stated, "I've been trying to treat the flower monumentally, to get beyond its prettiness." However, unlike O'Keeffe, Nesbitt preferred flat backgrounds; for this particular work, he chose black to contrast with the rose's bright colors and to evoke an enigmatic sense of sexuality.

Although the printer of this serigraph is unknown, Nesbitt became a skilled printmaker during his career and likely printed this piece himself on heavy wove paper. The work was published and stamped by the Lowell Nesbitt estate from which it was acquired.