The Dove, Nr. 12 1915

"The Dove, Nr. 12" (1915) by Hilma af Klint, is a striking example of abstract art that predates the European avant-garde. The painting depicts a celestial sphere against a vibrant yellow background, with an orbiting ring and astrological symbols for Aries, Cancer, and Taurus. The work is part of af Klint’s “Paintings for the Temple”, a series of abstract works inspired by spiritualism and theosophy, a combination of spirituality and science. While her work was not discovered until the 1980s, af Klint is now considered a pioneering figure in abstract art, influencing artists like Kandinsky and Malevich.