Hilma af Klint Paitings

Hilma af Klint (October 26, 1862 – October 21, 1944) was a Swedish painter. Many of Klint’s abstract paintings predate those of Mondrian and Kandinsky, both considered the fathers of abstract, meaning Klint was the first western abstract artist. In addition to painting, Hilma practiced Mysticism. She founded a group called "The Five", a group of women who shared her beliefs in trying to contact what she called the "High Masters" through séance. It was through her work with “The Five” that led Klint to create experimental automatic drawings. Her work had been exhibited just a couple of times before her death. In Klint’s will, she had requested that her work be kept secret for 20 years. Today the Hilma af Klint Foundation owns and manages her collection of over 1200 pieces.