Hilma af Klint

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Af Klint's botanical portfolio showcases her profound spiritual connection with the flora of Sweden. Between 1919 and 1920, she immersed herself in nature, drawing flowers found in forests and fields. This resulted in 46 sheets that form her Nature Studies portfolio, now part of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Using pencil and vibrant watercolor, af Klint combined detailed depictions of blossoms with abstract diagrams: a sunflower paired with nested circles, lily of the valley alongside a colorful checkerboard, and catsfoot against mirrored spirals. These elements reflect her belief that observing nature reveals deeper aspects of human character. Published alongside the first public exhibition of this rare portfolio, the accompanying text presents the drawings with contextual artworks and translations of her unpublished writings. An overview essay by curator Jodi Hauptman discusses the portfolio's creation, while contributions from Ewa Lajer-Burcharth, Laura Neufeld, and Lena Struwe explore the imagery, materiality, and botanical knowledge within these works. Hilma af Klint (1862-1944), trained at Stockholm's Royal Academy of Fine Arts, established herself as a professional artist and developed a unique abstract vocabulary in the early 20th century, influenced by her spiritual explorations and connection to the natural world.