Hylotelephium telephium (Orpine), Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea), Bidens tripartita (Three-Parted Beggarticks). Sheet 25 from the portfolio Nature Studies by Hilma af Klint is a detailed study rendered in watercolor, pencil, ink, and metallic paint on paper. Executed during a concentrated period between August 13–15, 1919, this drawing is one of 46 distinct sheets comprising Klint’s Nature Studies portfolio. This series, created late in the Swedish artist's career, showcases her sustained interest in botanical structures and the visual manifestation of life forces, blending meticulous scientific observation with her unique spiritual and esoteric approach to art.
The work meticulously depicts three distinct flora: the common Orpine (Hylotelephium telephium), the delicate Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus), and the utilitarian Three-Parted Beggarticks (Bidens tripartita). Klint employs subtle washes of watercolor alongside precise graphite outlines and strategic touches of metallic paint, elevating the classification drawing beyond mere illustration. The contrast between the lush, full representation of the Sweet Pea and the more complex structure of the Beggarticks highlights Klint’s dedication to capturing the diverse forms present in nature.
As a significant example of Swedish drawing from the early 20th century, Hylotelephium telephium (Orpine), Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea), Bidens tripartita (Three-Parted Beggarticks) offers crucial insight into the intellectual framework that underpinned Klint’s pioneering abstract paintings. While known primarily for her large-scale explorations of non-objective art, this precise drawing demonstrates the empirical foundations from which her spiritual investigations arose. The careful execution and systematic cataloging evident in this piece solidify its importance within the artist's oeuvre. This valuable work is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. High-resolution prints of many of Klint’s preparatory works are often made available through public domain initiatives and museum resources.
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