Hilma af Klint

Hilma af Klint (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈhɪ̂lːma ˈɑːv ˈklɪnːt]; October 26, 1862 – October 21, 1944) was a Swedish artist and mystic whose paintings were the first Western abstract works known to the current art community. A considerable body of her work predates the first purely abstract compositions by Kandinsky. She belonged to a group called "The Five", comprising a circle of women inspired by Theosophy, who shared a belief in the importance of trying to contact the so-called "High Masters"—often by way of séances. Her paintings, which sometimes resemble diagrams, were a visual representation of complex spiritual ideas.

Hilma af Klint

Hilma af Klint (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈhɪ̂lːma ˈɑːv ˈklɪnːt]; October 26, 1862 – October 21, 1944) was a Swedish artist and mystic whose paintings were the first Western abstract works known to the current art community. A considerable body of her work predates the first purely abstract compositions by Kandinsky. She belonged to a group called "The Five", comprising a circle of women inspired by Theosophy, who shared a belief in the importance of trying to contact the so-called "High Masters"—often by way of séances. Her paintings, which sometimes resemble diagrams, were a visual representation of complex spiritual ideas.