Hilma af Klint: The Mystical Origins of Her Secret Abstract Masterpieces
This article explores the spiritual and mystical inspirations behind Hilma af Klint's abstract artworks, which predate those of Kandinsky. Born in 1862, af Klint began attending séances in 1879, led by medium Bertha Valerius. She became a member of the Edelweiss society and co-founded The Five alongside Sigrid Hedman, Anna Cassel, Mathilda Nilsson, and Cornelia Cederberg. Between 1897 and 1907, they conducted weekly spirit-guided sessions. In 1906, the spirit Amaliel commissioned "Paintings for the Temple," leading to the creation of 193 pieces, 111 of which were produced from November 1906 to October 1908. Influenced by Emanuel Swedenborg and later Rudolf Steiner, af Klint's works were showcased in Malmö in 1914 and Stockholm in 1916. An exhibition is currently ongoing at the Grand Palais in Paris from May 6 to August 30, 2026.
Key facts
- Hilma af Klint began attending séances in 1879 at age 17 with medium Bertha Valerius.
- She formed the spiritist group The Five (De Fem) with Sigrid Hedman, Anna Cassel, Mathilda Nilsson, and Cornelia Cederberg.
- The Five held weekly sessions from 1897 to 1907, involving prayer, Bible reading, and automatic drawing.
- In 1906, the spirit Amaliel commissioned af Klint to create 'Paintings for the Temple.'
- She produced 193 paintings for the Temple, 111 of which were made between November 1906 and October 1908.
- Af Klint was influenced by Emanuel Swedenborg and later by Rudolf Steiner.
- Steiner viewed her Temple paintings in 1910 and deemed them unsuitable for public display.
- The exhibition 'Hilma af Klint' runs at the Grand Palais in Paris from May 6 to August 30, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Hilma af Klint
- Emanuel Swedenborg
- Bertha Valerius
- Sigrid Hedman
- Anna Cassel
- Mathilda Nilsson
- Cornelia Cederberg
- Georgiana Houghton
- Anna Mary Howitt
- Wilhelmine Assmann
- Gusten Andersson
- Gabriele Münter
- Rudolf Steiner
- Piet Mondrian
- Wassily Kandinsky
Institutions
- Edelweiss society
- The Five (De Fem)
- Hilma af Klint Foundation
- Moderna Museet
- Grand Palais
- Connaissance des Arts
- Société de théosophie de Stockholm
Locations
- Stockholm
- Sweden
- Malmö
- Paris
- France
- Leipzig
- Germany
- Dresden
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Grand Palais, 17 avenue du Général-Eisenhower, 75008 Paris