Hilma af Klint

A pioneer of abstract art who created groundbreaking spiritual and scientific visual works years before Kandinsky and Mondrian

Hilma af Klint (1862–1944) was a Swedish artist whose revolutionary abstract paintings predate the canonical male figures of abstract art by nearly a decade. Despite working in relative obscurity, her work fundamentally challenged the conventions of art and spirituality, making her a true innovator who made a difference in art history.

Af Klint's most notable series, The Paintings for the Temple (1906–1915), comprises 193 works exploring themes of duality, evolution, and cosmic unity. Created through a process she described as guided by spiritual forces, these works feature bold geometric forms, vibrant colors, and symbolic language—elements that would later define abstract movements like De Stijl and Bauhaus.

Her decision to stipulate that her work remain hidden for 20 years after her death reflects her understanding that the world was not yet ready for her vision. Rediscovered in the 1980s, her art has since reshaped art historical narratives, proving that women were at the forefront of abstraction. Institutions like the Moderna Museet in Stockholm now celebrate her as a visionary ahead of her time.

Af Klint's fusion of science, religion, and art also challenged the boundaries between disciplines. Her notebooks reveal meticulous studies of natural forms, atomic structures, and esoteric philosophies, positioning her as a bridge between the spiritual and the scientific—a legacy that continues to inspire contemporary artists and thinkers.