Hilma was before her time. I often wonder what influence her work would have had if it was well distributed when she was making it. Would it have been understood. She would have and will fit so beautifully into the Aquarian Age.
In 2019, stronomer Britt Lundgren from University of North Carolina Asheville visited the Guggenheim Museum in New York City to take in an exhibit of the works of Swedish painter Hilma af Klint. Lundgren noted a striking similarity between the abstract geometric shapes in af Klint's work and scientific diagrams in 19th century physicist Thomas Young's Lectures (1807). So began a four-year journey starting at the intersection of science and art that has culminated in a forthcoming paper in the journal Leonardo, making the case for the connection. It is about Leonardo, Volume 58, Issue 2, April 2025 https://leonardo.info/journal-issue/leonardo/58/2
And the abstract is the following one: "Swedish artist Hilma af Klint is known to have been influenced by scientific developments at the turn of the twentieth century.
However, many of her paintings from 1914 to 1916 exhibit similarities to diagrams published much earlier in the English polymath Thomas Young’s 1807 A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts. Key elements and themes in af Klint’s The Dove, The Swan, Parsifal, and Altarpieces series suggest Young’s Lectures may have been a major source for her work. The author explores this idea and other parallels between the lives and legacies of the visionary scientist and the abstract art pioneer."
The same study was published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology
James, I LOVE this letter. You are inspiring the start of a love story with Hilma af Klimt for me. Seeing her at the Guggenheim seems as good as it gets.
Wow thank you for bringing Hilma into the spotlight here, she’s inspiring me beyond! Praise be to Hilma for her unwavering trust in the divine working through her✨✨✨
Hilma was before her time. I often wonder what influence her work would have had if it was well distributed when she was making it. Would it have been understood. She would have and will fit so beautifully into the Aquarian Age.
This is now the 4th time Hilma has popped into my field of awareness this week! So beautiful, thanks for sharing, James
Just love this. It’s on my list to see in person some day!
What an Incredible story!! Thanks for sharing, James! It's a dream to go and see Hilmas artwork one day. 🤍
I'm going to see Hilma's work at the Bilbao Guggenheim this fall after reading James's book (I live in Madrid)
That’s amazing! You’ll love it.
It will be thanks to you: I love abstract art & visiting art museums but had never heard of Hilma until I read your amazing book 🙏
Lucky you!! I cannot wait to see her work 😔💫🩷
Hilma is everything!!
💜💜
In 2019, stronomer Britt Lundgren from University of North Carolina Asheville visited the Guggenheim Museum in New York City to take in an exhibit of the works of Swedish painter Hilma af Klint. Lundgren noted a striking similarity between the abstract geometric shapes in af Klint's work and scientific diagrams in 19th century physicist Thomas Young's Lectures (1807). So began a four-year journey starting at the intersection of science and art that has culminated in a forthcoming paper in the journal Leonardo, making the case for the connection. It is about Leonardo, Volume 58, Issue 2, April 2025 https://leonardo.info/journal-issue/leonardo/58/2
And the abstract is the following one: "Swedish artist Hilma af Klint is known to have been influenced by scientific developments at the turn of the twentieth century.
However, many of her paintings from 1914 to 1916 exhibit similarities to diagrams published much earlier in the English polymath Thomas Young’s 1807 A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts. Key elements and themes in af Klint’s The Dove, The Swan, Parsifal, and Altarpieces series suggest Young’s Lectures may have been a major source for her work. The author explores this idea and other parallels between the lives and legacies of the visionary scientist and the abstract art pioneer."
The same study was published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology
https://direct.mit.edu/leon/article/58/2/200/124515/Action-at-a-Distance-Did-Physicist-Thomas-Young-s
And also it was mentioned by Ars Technica in https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/01/did-hilma-af-klint-draw-inspiration-from-19th-century-physics/
https://bspoque.com/hilma-af-klint-an-astronomical-nostradamus/
So beautiful and inspiring, thank you for telling this story. The art feels like home.
A fascinating and intriguing story.
James, I LOVE this letter. You are inspiring the start of a love story with Hilma af Klimt for me. Seeing her at the Guggenheim seems as good as it gets.
Hi Amy! Thank you 💜
Wow thank you for bringing Hilma into the spotlight here, she’s inspiring me beyond! Praise be to Hilma for her unwavering trust in the divine working through her✨✨✨
🫶🏼💯