Linaria vulgaris (Yellow Toadflax), Trifolium pratense (Red Clover), Centaurea jacea (Brownray Knapweed). Sheet 24 from the portfolio Nature Studies is a detailed drawing created by the pioneering Swedish artist Hilma af Klint in 1919. This particular sheet, executed using a combination of watercolor, pencil, ink, and metallic paint on paper, is one of 46 distinct studies composing the broader portfolio, Nature Studies. Unlike many of Klint’s famous overtly abstract works, this piece showcases her intense focus on specific, observable botanical subjects: the common yellow toadflax, red clover, and brownray knapweed.
The work demonstrates Klint’s remarkable capacity for precise draftsmanship, merging close scientific observation with her unique artistic interpretation. The artist meticulously recorded the creation window, noting that this specific drawing was completed between August 4–8, 1919. This intense period of creative output illustrates Klint’s continued commitment to studying the material world, even as her primary focus shifted toward esoteric abstraction. The subtle incorporation of metallic paint suggests an attempt to infuse the natural subjects with a luminous quality, elevating the traditional botanical study into a deeper, potentially spiritual, examination of essential form.
This sheet is representative of Klint’s late drawing style, where she balanced objective rendering with her lifelong abstract explorations. The influence of the Swedish drawing tradition is palpable in her sensitive handling of the media. As a key document expanding the public understanding of Klint's versatile talent beyond pure abstraction, this drawing forms an important part of the Museum of Modern Art's (MoMA) permanent collection. The influence of Klint’s prolific legacy, coupled with the increasing recognition of her modern contributions, has led to greater access to high-quality prints and materials derived from her extensive catalog, helping cement her status as a foundational modernist figure now entering the public domain.
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