Wheat and Wormwood 1922 CE

Wheat and Wormwood is a delicate yet conceptually rich watercolor by Hilma af Klint. At first glance, it seems to belong to the world of botanical study, but its layered symbolism and quiet precision draw the viewer toward something deeper. The work invites contemplation not only of plants as visible forms, but of the hidden forces moving through nature, an approach that lies at the heart of af Klint’s spiritually inflected art.

A Later Phase in Hilma af Klint’s Work

Created in 1922, Wheat and Wormwood belongs to Hilma af Klint’s series On the Viewing of Flowers and Trees. This group marks an important moment in her career, following the completion of the monumental Paintings for the Temple cycle of 1906–1915. After those large-scale abstract works, af Klint turned toward a quieter yet no less searching engagement with the natural world. These later images may appear more restrained, but they remain deeply rooted in the same spiritual and philosophical concerns.

Nature as a Meeting of Forces

Contemporary commentary on these works describes them as visualizations of the pairing of two natural tendencies, as though af Klint were trying to show not only the outward structure of plants, but also their opposing energies, inner relations, and unseen essences. This idea closely follows her broader artistic aim: to perceive and represent reality beyond its merely physical appearance.

Spiritual Botany

Wheat and Wormwood is a clear example of what might be called af Klint’s spiritual botany. Rather than recording plant life only in a scientific or descriptive way, she sought to reveal its metaphysical dimensions, its hidden vitality, symbolic dualities, and its relation to the human soul. In the context of early twentieth-century art, the work occupies an important position. It joins empirical observation with esoteric inquiry and shows how af Klint expanded the expressive possibilities of botanical imagery, and with it, the larger language of abstraction.

Watercolor and Luminous Restraint

The work is executed in watercolor on paper and measures 17.5 × 24.5 cm. The use of watercolor allowed af Klint to create a luminous and translucent surface, well suited to her exploration of organic form and subtle energetic contrast.

In the Hilma af Klint Foundation

The original artwork is held in the collection of the Hilma af Klint Foundation, which oversees the preservation, research, and public presentation of the artist’s legacy. Through its work, the foundation has played a central role in making paintings such as Wheat and Wormwood accessible to scholars and the wider public, contributing to the growing recognition of af Klint as a visionary figure in the history of modern art.