Convolvulus arvensis (Field Bindweed), Monotropa hypopitys (Pinesap). Sheet 20 from the portfolio Nature Studies by Hilma af Klint is an exquisite drawing created during the artist's intense period of botanical and spiritual research in 1919. Executed specifically between July 11 and 24, 1919, this work utilizes a demanding combination of watercolor, pencil, ink, and notably, metallic paint on paper. The precise application of the metallic pigment distinguishes this piece from traditional botanical studies, reflecting Klint's effort to capture not merely the physical form of the plants, but their inherent energetic or esoteric signatures.
This Convolvulus arvensis (Field Bindweed), Monotropa hypopitys (Pinesap) sheet is one of 46 detailed drawings that comprise the comprehensive "Nature Studies" portfolio. Klint focused here on mapping two disparate subjects: the common, vining Convolvulus arvensis (Field Bindweed) and the unusual, non-photosynthetic Monotropa hypopitys (Pinesap). The Swedish artist utilized these specific examples to explore foundational concepts of duality and interconnectedness within the natural world, themes central to her theoretical framework derived from spiritualism and theosophy.
Klint’s methodical approach to drawing treats the plant kingdom as a cipher for higher truths. Unlike her earlier, large-scale abstract compositions, these later drawings reveal the foundational observational discipline underlying her visionary abstract work. Classified as a drawing, the piece demonstrates a meticulous line quality combined with subtle washes of color. The entire "Nature Studies" series offers critical insight into the later evolution of the artist’s aesthetic vision and her dedication to finding correspondence between micro and macro phenomena. This pioneering work currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, ensuring its availability for scholars examining the history of early abstraction and spirituality in art.
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