Hilma af Klint


She really was a pioneer in abstract painting. Ahead of names like Klee and Kandinsky.

But she was a woman active in the early 20th-century. And women  then were not supposed to be ahead of men.
Even not in Sweden, where she lived.
Furthermore she  painted in a spiritualistic and some kind of automatic way, at least in the beginning. And at least in the context of that time. She had a long and healthy life, was a pioneer also in her vegetarian diet.

The only one she showed her paintings to, outside the little circle of friends, was Rudolf Steiner, the grounder of Anthroposophy. And he rejected them.

So it's not until now they are really known, and shown in Europe and the USA.

They all have titles, but nobody can totally say what they mean, not even Hilma of Klint could.

But one theme is for certain the combination and unity of female and male energies.
This painting is an example of that:

The black swan stands for masculinity and the white for femininity. They have to come together in unity  to become strong and to find new ways of living.

A photo of Hilma where she really looks strong, and I suppose she had  to be that, living for her hidden paintings.
It is taken in 1895, but she looks surprisingly modern:

I am sure she would be very happy if she knew that her painting in the moment are shown in Malaga.

But in a way it's true to say that she just now is in Malaga.
http://museopicassomalaga.org/exposicion.cfm?id=102

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