Papaver rhoeas (Corn Poppy). Sheet 21 from the portfolio Nature Studies

Papaver rhoeas (Corn Poppy). Sheet 21 from the portfolio Nature Studies is a highly detailed drawing created by the pioneering Swedish artist Hilma af Klint on July 25, 1919. This complex work is rendered using a mixed media approach, combining delicate applications of watercolor, precise pencil and ink detailing, and highlights of metallic paint on paper. It is one of 46 individual drawings that comprise Klint’s extensive Nature Studies portfolio, a lesser-known but critical series within her vast body of abstract and spiritual investigations.

While Klint is primarily recognized today for her groundbreaking contributions to pure abstraction starting in the early 1900s, works like this detailed botanical study reveal her continued, meticulous engagement with the structure and energy of the natural world. The Nature Studies portfolio serves as a crucial bridge between the artist’s early representational period and her later, complex symbolic cycles. The drawings offer highly accurate botanical renderings that simultaneously integrate subtle abstract color studies, demonstrating Klint’s effort to capture not just the physical form of the plant but also its internal, spiritual essence.

The use of shimmering metallic paint accents in this specific sheet emphasizes the dual nature of Klint’s observation. The piece suggests that the study of natural forms—even common ones like the Corn Poppy—was essential to the artist’s esoteric practice. As a key figure in early 20th-century Swedish modernism, Klint’s detailed nature drawings provide necessary context for her larger abstract ambitions.

Created during a highly productive period for the artist, this drawing reinforces the depth of Klint’s commitment to documenting her spiritual and scientific observations. The drawing, classified as a seminal example of the artist’s work from the July 25, 1919 period, resides in the distinguished collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Its historical significance ensures that the image and prints derived from the work are widely accessible through scholarly studies and educational resources, contributing to its presence in the public domain.