The work titled Larix decidua (European Larch), Perizoma sp. (Rivulet Moth), Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn), Acer platanoides (Norway Maple), Quercus robur (English Oak), Bombus lapidarius (Red-Tailed Bumblebee). Sheet 6 from the portfolio Nature Studies by Hilma af Klint is a detailed observational drawing created during a specific, highly productive period between May 20–27, 1919. This piece is rendered using a combination of watercolor, pencil, ink, and metallic paint on paper, illustrating Klint’s commitment to scientific rigor alongside her profound spiritual pursuits. It forms part of the expansive Nature Studies portfolio, a series encompassing 46 drawings that serve as both analytical reference and conceptual exploration for the Swedish artist.
The meticulously executed drawing focuses on six distinct biological entities, mapping the intricate ecosystem of flora and fauna. Klint diagrams several major botanical elements, including the sturdy Quercus robur (English Oak), the thorny Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn), the soft Larix decidua (European Larch), and the broad leaves associated with the Acer platanoides (Norway Maple). Alongside these plant studies, the composition incorporates insects crucial to the environment, specifically the large Bombus lapidarius (Red-Tailed Bumblebee) and the smaller Perizoma sp. (Rivulet Moth).
While Klint is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in abstract painting, these detailed studies demonstrate her lifelong practice of scientific classification and natural observation, techniques essential to her development as an artist. Unlike her large-scale spiritualist canvases, this work adheres to an illustrative style, though the inclusion of metallic paint subtly connects scientific analysis to underlying structures of cosmic order. Executed relatively late in the artist’s life, the complete portfolio provides crucial insight into the comprehensive sources Klint consulted to create her unique visual language. This important drawing is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
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