Equisetum arvense (Field Horsetail), Paris quadrifolia (Herb-Paris), Lonicera xylosteum (Fly Honeysuckle). Sheet 13 from the portfolio Nature Studies by Hilma af Klint is a significant drawing executed in 1919. This detailed classification study utilizes watercolor, pencil, ink, and metallic paint on paper, techniques Klint frequently employed in her esoteric explorations of the natural world. This particular sheet was created during a focused period between May 12 and June 14, 1919, forming part of a larger portfolio composed of 46 meticulous botanical studies.
The Swedish artist, Klint, executed the comprehensive Nature Studies portfolio to bridge empirical scientific observation with metaphysical inquiry. While these drawings present detailed, almost microscopic, renderings of specific flora-including the Field Horsetail, Herb-Paris, and Fly Honeysuckle-they served as vital investigations into form, structure, and underlying energetic principles that informed Klint’s pioneering abstract compositions. The precise application of watercolor is juxtaposed with the subtle reflectivity of metallic paint, suggesting an attempt to capture both the material structure and the spiritual essence of the plants. The selection of these particular botanical subjects underscores the artist's persistent fascination with the structures of the natural world.
This drawing reflects the unique position of Swedish modernist art and the spiritualist movements that influenced Klint’s practice. The commitment to cataloging these botanical forms is evident across the entire Nature Studies series, documenting the artist’s dedication to understanding the cosmos through its visible elements. This essential work is currently housed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, ensuring its accessibility for scholarly review. Due to the increasing historical interest in Klint's foundational contributions to abstraction, high-quality prints derived from this 1919 work often circulate, connecting the legacy of Klint to a wider international audience.
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