Hilma af Klint: The Ten Largest No. 4, Youth (1907)

An expressive abstract art poster featuring Hilma af Klint’s The Ten Largest, No. 4, Youth from 1907. Layered patterns and shapes in black, blue, orange and pink unfold across a vivid orange background in the second monumental painting devoted to youth.

Printed locally on heavyweight matte paper, as close to you as possible. Typical delivery time: 2–5 business days.

• Abstract artwork by Hilma af Klint
• The fourth painting in The Ten Largest
• Created in Stockholm in 1907
• Egg shapes associated with beginnings and development
• Printed on 200 gsm heavyweight matte paper
• Available in four sizes
• Frame not included

A second vision of youth

No. 4, Youth continues the energy of the preceding painting while introducing a denser arrangement of patterns and symbolic forms. Black, blue and pink elements move across an orange field, creating a composition filled with tension and rhythm.

The forms appear to grow, divide and connect. This visual movement reflects Hilma af Klint’s interest in youth as a period of change, possibility and developing consciousness.

Egg shapes, colour and Eros

Egg-like forms appear in both paintings devoted to youth. They can represent a beginning or something that has yet to emerge, making them closely connected with the theme of development.

Yellow and blue represent masculine and feminine principles in Hilma af Klint’s symbolic language. Pink was associated with Eros, the ancient god of love who, in early traditions, was connected with the creation of the cosmos.

“Both of these paintings feature egg shapes that can symbolise the beginning of something.”

The Ten Largest

Hilma af Klint created the ten monumental paintings during forty intensive days in the autumn of 1907. Each work took approximately four days and was painted in tempera on large sheets of paper mounted on canvas.

The series explores four stages of human life on spiritual and psychological levels. No. 1 and 2 represent Childhood, No. 3 and 4 Youth, No. 5 to 8 Adulthood, and No. 9 and 10 Old Age.

The Ten Largest belongs to The Paintings for the Temple, an extensive body of work that af Klint began in 1906.

About Hilma af Klint

Hilma af Klint was born in Stockholm in 1862. She studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts and initially worked with portraits, landscapes and botanical studies.

Alongside her public artistic career, she developed a private body of abstract and symbolic paintings inspired by spiritualism, theosophy and her study of nature. Her combination of geometric forms, letters and organic imagery appeared several years before abstraction became established in European modern art.

Artwork details

Available sizes

Graphic forms and warm colour

The orange background and contrasting dark forms give the poster a strong graphic presence. It works well in a living room, dining area, creative workspace or gallery wall with warm wood and neutral textiles.

Discover more works in our collection of Swedish art.

Frequently asked questions

What does No. 4, Youth represent?

The painting explores youth through movement, contrasting colours and symbolic forms associated with beginnings and development.

What do the egg shapes symbolise?

They can represent beginnings, new possibilities and something that is waiting to emerge.

What does the colour pink mean?

Hilma af Klint associated pink with Eros, the ancient god connected with love and cosmic creation.

Is the artwork part of a larger series?

Yes. It is the fourth of ten monumental paintings exploring the stages of human life.

How large is the original?

The original artwork measures approximately 328 × 240 cm.

What paper is the poster printed on?

The poster is printed on heavyweight 200 gsm paper with a smooth, non-reflective matte surface.

Is a frame included?

No, the frame is not included.