Haizea Barcenilla, Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
The work of the Swedish artist Hilma af Klimt is considered the first manifestation of abstraction. But it has not always been part of the artistic canon. Even she believed that she painted something too advanced for her time.
The Lee Krasner exhibition at London’s Barbican, 2019.
Charlie J Ercilla / Alamy
There is still much to do to overcome the damage done by the myth of women-free art history that existed for the entire 20th century.
Hilma af Klint, Group IX/UW, The dove, no 2. 1915. Oil on canvas, 155.5 x 115.5 cm.
Courtesy of the Hilma af Klint Foundation. Kak174. Photo: The Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden
The once secret paintings of Hilma af Klint are a revelation both for their beauty and for highlighting the impact of spiritualism on how artists see the world.
Honorary (Senior Fellow) School of Culture and Communication University of Melbourne. Editor in Chief, Design and Art of Australia Online, The University of Melbourne