Abstract

Abstract art departs from the direct representation of the visible world, focusing instead on color, form, and composition. Rather than depicting recognizable subjects, abstract works explore visual relationships and expressive possibilities within the language of art.

The Swan, No. 14 by Hilma af Klint, oil on canvas, 1915

The Swan, No. 14 (1915 CE)

The painting's central forms and color harmonies evoke the "white stone" phase of alchemical transformation, symbolizing spiritual purification and the union of opposites en route to enlightenment, much like an inner journey toward the philosopher's stone.