Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry), Malus domestica (Apple), Pyrus communis (Common Pear), Vaccinium vitis-idaea (Lingonberry). Sheet 8 from the portfolio Nature Studies by Hilma af Klint is a significant drawing from 1919, capturing the artist’s unique approach to botanical observation. This meticulously rendered piece utilizes watercolor, pencil, ink, and metallic paint on paper, demonstrating Klint’s command over various media. Classified as a drawing, this sheet is part of a larger portfolio of 46 studies, created during a highly productive period spanning May 30–June 20, 1919.
This particular sheet offers detailed, yet stylized, representations of various common fruits and berries, including the bilberry, apple, common pear, and lingonberry. While seemingly straightforward natural studies, Klint's works often transcend simple illustration, integrating scientific precision with her deep spiritual and esoteric concerns. The Swedish artist’s studies, even when focused on earthly subjects, hint at the underlying organizational principles and dualities she explored throughout her abstract career. The use of metallic paint subtly elevates the natural subjects, lending them an ethereal quality.
The Nature Studies portfolio represents a fascinating stage in Klint’s development, bridging her early naturalistic drawing skills with the radical abstract vision that defines her legacy. These works provide vital context to her pioneering role in abstract art at the turn of the 20th century. As a key document of Swedish modernism, this work contributes to the historical understanding of how European artists synthesized scientific observation and metaphysical inquiry.
The drawing currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Access to high-resolution images and prints of this foundational work is often made available to the public domain, ensuring scholars and enthusiasts can study Klint’s complex techniques and subject matter. The Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry), Malus domestica (Apple), Pyrus communis (Common Pear), Vaccinium vitis-idaea (Lingonberry). Sheet 8 from the portfolio Nature Studies remains a crucial example of Klint’s expansive artistic output.
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