Overexposed and Underrated

The critical reputations of two great 20th century artists are diminished through sheer overexposure. Georgia O'Keeffe has graced too many calendars and posters for art taste-makers to fully or unreservedly admit her greatness. And Bob Marley's best-of set Legend has played over the sound system in too many stores for us to remember what a formidable musical force he was. Part of the problem is that their smooth surfaces make them good candidates for mass dissemination. If you let them sit in the background they do just fine there. But if you pay attention you can tell how much is actually going on. The same can be said of Mozart, and you won't find many today who deny his genius.