The Grand Palais in Paris is hosting a groundbreaking exhibition featuring the visionary works of Swedish artist Hilma af Klint. The exhibition brings the 'Paintings for the Temple' to the French public for the first time, showcasing a series of abstract artworks produced years before the rise of masters like Kandinsky and Mondrian, according to France 24.
Created between 1906 and 1915, the massive collection includes 'The Ten Largest,' a series of towering paintings characterized by vibrant oranges, soft pinks, and striking blues. The works feature organic forms, geometric shapes, and swirling spirals that appear to float across the canvases.
For much of her life, af Klint's most significant works remained hidden from the public eye in a secret vault. The exhibition highlights her role as a true pioneer of abstraction, predating the movements associated with Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, and Kazimir Malevich.
A long-awaited debut
Pascal Rousseau, the exhibition’s curator, described the scale and impact of the work as unprecedented. He noted that the body of work has no equivalent in the art world.
“Coming face to face with ‘The Ten Largest’ is still an incredible sight to behold, even today,” Rousseau told France 24. He further described the collection as “unbelievable, magisterial,” adding that even Kandinsky did not work on such a massive scale.
Rousseau, who first encountered af Klint's work during a 1986 exhibition in Los Angeles, has been working to bring the collection to Paris since 2013. He noted that while he had been pushing for the show, "Paris wasn’t yet ready to do so."
The exhibition offers a rare look at the artist's process, where traces of footprints and running paint suggest a rapid, spontaneous method of creation. The display marks a significant moment for French art institutions as they introduce the French public to an artist whose influence on modern abstraction is now being re-evaluated.
