Hilma af Klint’s Atom & the Tree of Knowledge

Author Rachel Villari ISBN 9798996191079 Pages 272 Long before abstract art became widely recognized Hilma af Klint, was creating visionary paintings that blurred the boundaries between the visible world and unseen realities such as science and spirituality, matter and spirit. Guided by scientific curiosity and profound spiritual experiences, af Klint developed a visual language unlike anything the art world had seen, challenging conventional gender roles and artistic expectations of her era. Focusing on her groundbreaking series Atom and the Tree of Knowledge, this book explores how af Klint wove geometry, nature, mysticism, and early twentieth-century scientific discoveries into works that feel astonishingly modern. Through fresh analysis of af Klint’s symbols, diagrams, and artistic philosophy, this study reveals her not only as a pioneer of abstract art, but as a visionary thinker far ahead of her time. Moving beyond traditional divisions between art and science, reason and intuition, and the material and spiritual aspects of existence, af Klint invites viewers to imagine a deeply interconnected universe in which all forms of life and knowledge are profoundly linked. This book offers readers a new perspective on one of the most compelling and influential artists of the modern era. Rachel Villari, PhD, is an artist, art historian, writer, and educator, whose work explores the intersections of abstraction, symbolism, spiritual philosophy, and the overlooked narratives within art history.