Hilma af Klint (1862–1944) was a Swedish painter and visionary whose groundbreaking abstract works remained largely unknown for decades. A pioneer of non-representational art, she began creating bold, geometric, and symbolic compositions in 1906—years before abstraction became widely recognized in modern art.
Deeply influenced by spiritualism, Theosophy, and mysticism, af Klint believed she was channeling messages from higher realms. Her most ambitious series, The Paintings for the Temple, was meant to convey universal spiritual truths through vibrant colors, dynamic shapes, and esoteric symbols. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she did not seek public recognition, convinced that her work was ahead of its time.