Hilma af Klint
On this day in 1862, Hilma af Klint, the first artist who painted abstraction, was born. Af Klint's art is abstract, symbolic, and full of religious and mystic meanings. Today, we present one such work.
The dove series of Hilma af Klint explores the symbolism of birds as creatures that inhabit land, sea, and sky. Its central theme is the creation of matter from light. Appearing in only some of the paintings, birds are shown moving downward from upper to lower realms, symbolically linking spirit with matter and heaven with earth and reflecting af Klint’s desire to overcome dualities and achieve a state of harmony.
The artist fuses religious and cosmological iconography elements, creating new sacred images for a modern world. The dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit in Christianity, is more broadly considered an emblem of peace and a divine messenger. There are also references to science, mathematics (especially geometry), color theories, and zodiac signs.
This painting is featured in our 2024 DailyArt Desk Calendar, which you can check out in the DailyArt Shop! :)
P.S. Discover the fascinating life of Hilma af Klint and learn how her art was rediscovered after decades of obscurity.
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