A new documentary titled "La Double Vie d'Hilma af Klint – Peintre et pionnière de l'art abstrait," directed by Manuelle Blanc, is now available on Arte's website. It explores the life and work of Swedish artist Hilma af Klint (1862–1944), who created abstract paintings years before Kandinsky, Mondrian, and Malevich, but kept them secret per her will until 20 years after her death. The film sheds light on her mystical practice, her dual existence as an academic painter and a spiritual medium, and the cosmic, geometric works that challenge conventional art history.
This documentary matters because Hilma af Klint's belated recognition has reshaped the narrative of abstract art's origins, shifting focus from male pioneers to a female visionary. Her 2018 retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum in New York drew record attendance, and a major exhibition co-organized by the Grand Palais and the Centre Pompidou is currently underway in Paris. The film brings her story to a wider audience, reinforcing her status as a crucial figure in modern art and sparking ongoing debate about gender, spirituality, and the canon.