“The Swan (No. 1),” created by Hilma af Klint between 1914 and 1915, is an oil painting on canvas that falls within the Expressionism art movement. This animal painting beautifully and vividly illustrates the theme of duality, depicted through the imagery of two swans.
The artwork portrays two swans, one white and one black, dynamically intertwined against a contrasting background. The white swan, symbolizing purity and light, ascends from the bottom of the canvas. Conversely, the black swan, representing darkness and mystery, descends from the top. Their beaks meet in the center, suggesting a merging of opposites or a balance between darkness and light. This visual embodiment of duality, rendered through contrasting colors and forms, engages viewers in a contemplation of harmony and conflict. The expressive strokes and bold color palette are characteristic of Expressionism, highlighting inner emotions and abstract ideas present in the world of animals.
