Ajuga pyramidalis (Pyramidal Bugle), Ixodes ricinus (Castor Bean Tick), Musca sp. (Fly). Sheet 38 from the portfolio Nature Studies

Ajuga pyramidalis (Pyramidal Bugle), Ixodes ricinus (Castor Bean Tick), Musca sp. (Fly). Sheet 38 from the portfolio Nature Studies by Hilma af Klint is a meticulous observation drawing executed in 1920. The work demonstrates the artist's complex mixed-media approach, incorporating watercolor, pencil, ink, metallic paint, and gouache on paper. This piece is part of a larger compilation of 46 drawings categorized under the Nature Studies portfolio, completed during a short, intensive period documented between May 30 and June 1, 1920.

The drawing focuses on the precise biological rendering of distinct species from the natural world. Klint meticulously depicts the structural elements of the Pyramidal Bugle plant (Ajuga pyramidalis), contrasting this stationary flora with detailed studies of mobile fauna: the Castor Bean Tick (Ixodes ricinus) and an unidentified Fly (Musca sp.). While renowned internationally for her pioneering early abstract paintings, Klint consistently employed rigorous scientific illustration throughout her career, utilizing these natural studies to explore hidden connections, spiritual symmetry, and esoteric systems.

The subtle application of metallic paint alongside the standard drawing materials elevates this work beyond typical botanical or entomological illustration, underscoring the artist’s search for spiritual resonance within material forms. This particular series reflects Klint’s final artistic decade, maintaining the precision typical of the Swedish drawing tradition while integrating the symbolic language central to her Theosophical interests. This significant drawing is housed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Although the original work remains protected by copyright, educational prints and images sometimes enter the public domain, allowing wider access to Klint’s extraordinary catalog.