Polygonatum odoratum (Angular Solomon’s Seal). Sheet 40 from the portfolio Nature Studies by Hilma af Klint is a detailed and meditative drawing executed on paper. Dated specifically to June 5, 1920, the piece is one of 46 distinct studies assembled in the Swedish artist’s expansive botanical portfolio. Klint utilized a delicate blend of watercolor, pencil, ink, and metallic paint to render the structure of the Polygonatum odoratum, or Angular Solomon’s Seal. The multi-layered application of these media highlights Klint’s rigorous approach to scientific observation blended with subtle artistic interpretation, emphasizing both the plant's form and texture.
This drawing originates from a period when Klint, widely known for her pioneering contributions to non-objective art, devoted her analytical eye toward the natural world. Although recognized primarily for her highly spiritual and complex abstract canvases completed earlier in her career, the detailed Nature Studies demonstrate the artist’s continuous interest in examining life forms and their underlying structural patterns. The precise classification of the plant, carefully noted in the title and execution, suggests a desire to find objective truths and inherent forms, foundational pursuits that informed the development of her singular visual language.
As a vital document within the artist’s extensive oeuvre, this work provides critical insight into the observational methodology Klint employed throughout her career. The study is particularly revealing of the transitional phase the artist entered in the 1920s, bridging her scientific research with her spiritual convictions. The final work, Polygonatum odoratum (Angular Solomon’s Seal), is currently held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Although the original drawing remains a carefully preserved object, the accessibility of such drawings through high-quality prints and digital collections allows scholars and the general public alike to study the technical precision and unique vision of this foundational modern artist.
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