Notes and Methods

I was lucky enough to see the Hilma af Klint exhibit at the Guggenheim, which included some of these notebooks. This volume presents every page in colorful detail, as well as providing English translation for the Swedish text. What strikes me is how she made these miniature reproductions of her immense paintings, so as to be able to share the work in an easily portable form. Yet these miniatures have a distinctive charm of their own, as if the richness & scope of the huge originals have been condensed down into something small & tightly focused.And it's also fascination to see the original sketches done during her years as a medium in her working group of The Five. Many of the shapes & patterns that take full form in the paintings have their origins here, emerging in a raw state from the depths of her psyche … or from another plane of existence, as she might have defined it. However you look at it, the source of the art is somewhere other than the artist's conscious mind, visions made tangible by her gifted eye & hand.But psychological musings, while worth pursuing, are hardly the most important thing here: what matters is the art itself & the otherworldly beauty & mystery that it so successfully conveys. For any devotee of Hilma af Klint, this is a necessary book; but it's not just for devotees, either. Anyone fascinated by the inner universe of the human mind & soul, especially when brought forth by a unique creator, will find this book compelling & moving — most highly recommended!

This is a beautiful book, presenting thorough and careful look at important diaries of this artist as she immerses herself in the work. I have other books about the artist .. this one gives me the best insights.

For anyone learning about and attracted to the art of Hilma af Klint, this is the perfect companion to the recently published book for the exhibition at the Guggenheim. Hilma af Klint kept detailed sketchbooks with extensive notes. Each book is a valuable work of art. This magnificently published hard bound book is based on the most perfectly reproduced image captures of the pages from her sketchbooks (all in color). There is excellent scholastic research that places these volumes in historical context by explaining the "coded" writings of Hilma af Klint. PP 268 to 285 give the reader a detailed "decoding" of the artist's terms. This book is a treasure!

Only a few pages of narrative, the rest is all images from her notebooks. Well arranged, beautiful.

So good. This book brings together high-quality reproductions of Hilma af Klint's notebooks: her notes, watercolors, diagrams, and, especially interesting, the notebooks she made to document her own body of work, where she would juxtapose black and white photographs of larger paintings with a small watercolor copy of each. The book itself is beautifully designed and sturdy, too. Satisfying!

Beautiful and well bound book ok the sketches of the Spiritualist Painter Hilma af Klint. They had a collection of her sketches at the Guggenheim exhibit of her work and fell in love with them more than the main artwork on display

This book is almost entirely full color reproductions of af Klint's notebooks with only a brief introduction. The extensive glossary of terms is very helpful.

An astounding piece of scholarship, very helpful for gaining insight into Hilma af Klint’s thought process and symbolism as she developed her surprising artistic practice over the years. Reproductions of numerous pages from the artist’s notebooks (with English translations below) and a lengthy index of terms at the back of the book.

Com os fac-símiles dos livros portfólios feitos pela Hilma, contém uma visão ampla da obra da artista. Muita coisa em pequeno formato, com algumas seleções em tamanho maior.A qualidade da impressão é excelente.As notas de observações botânicas com a forma percebida para cada planta é única, extensa e muito interessante. Comprei com interesse maior nessa parte e valeu a pena.

This is an incredible (and affordable!!!) one-volume introduction to Hilma af Klimt's work, a book by a university press (U of Chicago) aimed at experts and general readers alike. Concise introductions to hundreds of full-colour reproductions representing significant periods in af Klimt's work, including several of her illustrated notebooks in full. Also includes her own "dictionary" to her shorthand in English translation. An introduction, a reference work, a bargain, a treasure. A window into the unseen. An absolute must.

This is a beautiful book and an important contribution to scholarship on Hilma af Klint

Muy bien editado con mucho detalle. una joya

Beautifully presented and intriguing content. Helpful glossary/translation.