Viscaria vulgaris (Clammy Campion). Sheet 44 from the portfolio Nature Studies is a meticulous drawing created by Hilma af Klint on June 12, 1920. This piece is part of a larger, highly focused collection of 46 drawings intended to document and analyze the natural world. Klint utilized a delicate mixture of watercolor, pencil, ink, and metallic paint on paper, employing techniques that emphasize both scientific precision and spiritual resonance. As a Swedish artist, Klint’s work often fused careful observation of botany with her own exploration of the esoteric, positioning this drawing within the broader movement of early 20th-century spiritual abstraction.
The subject of the work is the Viscaria vulgaris, commonly known as the Clammy Campion. Unlike Klint’s purely abstract canvases, this drawing from the Nature Studies portfolio demonstrates her keen observational skills, blending scientific inquiry with artistic interpretation. The application of metallic paint provides a subtle shimmer, suggesting that this botanical study is not merely illustrative but also imbued with underlying symbolic significance tied to esoteric belief systems. The drawing format allows Klint to meticulously detail the structure of the plant, utilizing fine pencil lines and controlled washes of watercolor. This specific work, dated June 12, 1920, reveals the preparatory research underlying Klint's monumental abstractions, illustrating her commitment to deriving structure from the fundamental forms found in nature.
Viscaria vulgaris (Clammy Campion). Sheet 44 is currently housed in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. The existence of this extensive portfolio underscores Klint's disciplined approach to artistic practice during this phase of her career, focusing on nature studies in the immediate post-WWI era. Although the artist was primarily focused on her esoteric research, the Nature Studies portfolio ensures her enduring legacy as a significant Swedish modernist. Due to the historical nature of the work, high-quality prints and reference materials are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread accessibility to the complex botanical drawings executed by Klint.
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