Hilma af Klint – Notes and Methods
Product ID: 76675653
At the turn of the twentieth century, Swedish artist Hilma af Klint (1862–1944) created a body of work that left visible reality behind, exploring the radical possibilities of abstraction years before Vasily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, or Piet Mondrian. Many consider her the first trained artist to create abstract paintings. With Hilma af Klint: Notes and Methods, we get to experience the arc of Klint’s artistic investigation in her own words. Hilma af Klint studied at the Royal Swedish Academy in Stockholm where she was part of the first generation of female students. Up until the beginning of the century, she painted mainly landscapes and detailed botanical studies. Her work from this period was that of a young artist of her time who meticulously observed the world around her. But, like many of her contemporaries, af Klint was also interested in the invisible relationships that shape our world, believing strongly in a spiritual dimension. She joined the Theosophical Society, and, with four fellow female members who together called themselves “The Five,” began to study mediumship. Between 1906 and 1915, purportedly guided by a higher power, af Klint created 193 individual works that, in both scale and scope of imagery, are like no other art created at that time. Botanically inspired images and mystical symbols, diagrams, words and geometric series, all form part af Klint’s abstract language. These abstract techniques would not be seen again until years later. Notes and Methods presents facsimile reproductions of a wide array of af Klint’s early notebooks accompanied by the first English translation of af Klint’s extensive writings. It contains the rarely seen “Blue Notebooks,” hand-painted and annotated catalogues af Klint created of her most famous series “Paintings for the Temple,” and a dictionary compiled by af Klint of the words and letters found in her work. An introduction by Iris Müller-Westermann illuminates this unique and important contribution to the legacy of Hilma af Klint.
| Dimensions | 25.65 x 19.05 x 2.54 cm |
| Edition | Annotated |
| Isbn 10 | 022659193X |
| Isbn 13 | 978-0226591933 |
| Item Weight | 998 g |
| Language | English |
| Print Length | 288 pages |
| Publication Date | 25 Sept. 2018 |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press |
User
Amazing artist
Very informative book about the artist. Not looked at all of it, yet very interesting and can't wait to get to know more
User
Intriguing content
Beautifully presented and intriguing content. Helpful glossary/translation.
User
Well illustrated
Interesting and informative book.
User
Fabulous book
Large selection, good images, marvelous artist.
User
The artist's creativity is inspiring.
Research.
User
Buen complemento para saber un poco más sobre la obra de la artista
Interesante libro para saber un poco más sobre la obra de Hilma af klint. Buena encuadernación y calidad del libro
User
An Epic book
Her work was never exhibited until a few years back I am so grateful that its available to view in this book which is extremely comprehensive and oh so wonderful
User
Livro lindo
Com os fac-símiles dos livros portfólios feitos pela Hilma, contém uma visão ampla da obra da artista. Muita coisa em pequeno formato, com algumas seleções em tamanho maior.A qualidade da impressão é excelente.As notas de observações botânicas com a forma percebida para cada planta é única, extensa e muito interessante. Comprei com interesse maior nessa parte e valeu a pena.
User
Beautiful book
This is a beautiful book and an important contribution to scholarship on Hilma af Klint
User
The working methods of visionary art
I was lucky enough to see the Hilma af Klint exhibit at the Guggenheim, which included some of these notebooks. This volume presents every page in colorful detail, as well as providing English translation for the Swedish text. What strikes me is how she made these miniature reproductions of her immense paintings, so as to be able to share the work in an easily portable form. Yet these miniatures have a distinctive charm of their own, as if the richness & scope of the huge originals have been condensed down into something small & tightly focused.And it's also fascination to see the original sketches done during her years as a medium in her working group of The Five. Many of the shapes & patterns that take full form in the paintings have their origins here, emerging in a raw state from the depths of her psyche … or from another plane of existence, as she might have defined it. However you look at it, the source of the art is somewhere other than the artist's conscious mind, visions made tangible by her gifted eye & hand.But psychological musings, while worth pursuing, are hardly the most important thing here: what matters is the art itself & the otherworldly beauty & mystery that it so successfully conveys. For any devotee of Hilma af Klint, this is a necessary book; but it's not just for devotees, either. Anyone fascinated by the inner universe of the human mind & soul, especially when brought forth by a unique creator, will find this book compelling & moving — most highly recommended!
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