Creation and Series

This painting is part of a series titled 'The Swan,' which consists of 24 oil on canvas works created between 1914 and 1915. The series is characterized by its detailed and programmatic sequencing.

Style and Influence

Hilma af Klint's work in this series, as well as her broader body of abstract art, predates and anticipates the abstract movements of her contemporaries, including Wassily Kandinsky. Her paintings from this period are notable for their richly symbolic vocabulary of abstract forms and looping letters, marking a significant departure from the representational landscapes and portraits she produced earlier in her career.

Spiritual Context

Af Klint's artistic process was deeply influenced by her spiritual beliefs. She received a spiritual commission during a séance in 1904, where she was instructed to create paintings on the 'astral plane,' aiming to represent man’s transcendental truth rather than mortal likeness. This spiritual context is central to understanding the symbolic and abstract nature of her work.

Size and Current Status

The painting 'The Swan, No. 8' measures 60 x 59 inches. After af Klint's death in 1944, her nephew Erik inherited her extensive body of work, which included over 1,000 paintings and drawings. She stipulated that her work should not be shown until 20 years after her death, but it took several more decades for her art to gain recognition and be acknowledged as an important chapter in the history of modernism.

Exhibition and Recognition

Today, Hilma af Klint's works, including 'The Swan, No. 8,' are recognized for their originality and significance in the history of modern art. They are part of various museum collections and have been featured in exhibitions that highlight her pioneering role in abstract art.