Hilma af Klint: What Stands Behind the Flowers

Edited by Jodi Hauptman. Text by Ewa Lajer-Burcharth, Laura Neufeld, Lena Struwe.

Hilma af Klint Book | MoMA Art Book on Abstract Botanical Drawings

Wander through the woodlands and flowering meadows of Sweden in Hilma af Klint: What Stands Behind the Flowers, a contemplative study of the natural world through the artist’s singular vision. Published by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, the volume gathers all 46 works from af Klint’s Nature Studies portfolio—created during the spring and summer of 1919–1920. In these drawings, jewel-toned botanicals and precisely rendered blossoms are layered with enigmatic spirals, diagrams, and forms, reflecting her belief that nature offers a portal to deeper spiritual truths.

Swedish Botanical Illustration | Hilma af Klint Flower Drawings

Essays by Ewa Lajer-Burcharth, Laura Neufeld, and Lena Struwe, alongside an introduction by curator Jodi Hauptman, offer context for the imagery, symbolism, and botany behind af Klint’s work. Her previously unpublished writings lend insight into the meditative act of close observation—what she called “what stands behind the flowers.” A thoughtful addition to any art library or nature-inspired collections, this volume lends clarity and presence to personal spaces and contemplative interiors.