Hilma af Klint : Flora

Limited edition of 999 copies

Although her work has only been fully recognised in recent years, Hilma af Klint (1862–1944) is now regarded as one of the great pioneers of abstract art. It is less well known that she devoted the early years of her artistic career to the diligent study of nature. In the spring and summer of 1919 and 1920, whilst already on the path towards the abstract painting that would bring her fame, she drew flowers almost daily. ‘I shall first attempt to capture the flowers of the earth,’ she declared.

The recently discovered portfolio of forty-six large-format watercolours illustrates the unique approach of this exceptional Swedish artist. Through her delicate naturalistic depictions, adorned with the rich colours of watercolour, she conveys the vibrant power of nature whilst departing from botanical conventions by juxtaposing them with meticulous diagrams. This interplay between organic forms and abstract structures points to the spiritual and cosmological dimension that underlies Hilma af Klint’s entire body of work.

Hilma af Klint’s portfolio, so rarely exhibited, is the subject of a luxurious facsimile edition. Each of the forty-six folios is reproduced on a 1:1 scale, and the collection is presented in a sumptuous slipcase. An accompanying booklet, featuring an essay by art historian Jodi Hauptman, places the work in its context and examines the artist’s relationship with the natural world.