Svanen 1914

Hilma af Klint made "Svanen" with oil and tempera, and right away, the first thing I notice is its unusual colour palette. It’s almost like a muted pastel goth—I mean, who puts salmon pink next to ochre? Af Klint did! Looking closer, the surface is thick with paint; you can see how she really worked it, especially around the wings. There’s a real sense of movement, but it’s balanced by the rigid composition. I’m especially drawn to that little emblem hanging in the center—it feels like a secret code that unlocks the whole painting. Af Klint reminds me a little of Agnes Pelton, another artist exploring spiritual themes with a similar sense of colour and form. What makes Af Klint so unique is that she embraces ambiguity. It’s like she’s saying, "Here are some symbols, make of them what you will”. It’s this openness that keeps me coming back.