Hilma af Klint: The Ten Largest No. 7, Adulthood (1907)

A colourful abstract art poster featuring Hilma af Klint’s The Ten Largest, No. 7, Adulthood from 1907. Yellow, green, red, orange and white shapes unfold across a deep purple background, accompanied by letters and enigmatic symbols from the artist’s visual language.

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

• Abstract composition by Hilma af Klint
• Created in 1907 as part of The Ten Largest
• The third of four paintings devoted to adulthood
• Purple background with vivid organic forms and symbols
• Printed on 200 gsm heavyweight matte paper
• Available in four sizes
• Frame not included

The third stage of adulthood

No. 7 belongs to the group of four purple paintings representing different phases of adult life. The composition is filled with large, freely moving shapes in yellow, green, red, orange and white. Their varied scale and direction create a sense of continuous growth and transformation.

Some forms resemble petals, seeds and cells, while others remain deliberately abstract. Hilma af Klint combined references to the natural world with geometry, writing and spiritual symbolism, allowing several possible readings to coexist.

The letters U, W and S

The letters U, W and S appear within the composition. Such letters recur throughout The Paintings for the Temple and formed part of Hilma af Klint’s extensive system of words, signs and abbreviations.

Her notebooks assign different meanings to individual letters and combinations. According to Moderna Museet, U and W frequently refer to spirit and matter. Their meaning can change with the context, however, so the paintings cannot be deciphered through a single universal key.

“In the third purple painting, the letters U, W and S recur, as well as the word vestalasket.”

The enigmatic “vestalasket”

The Swedish expression vestalasket, which can be rendered as “Vestal ascetic”, appears among the signs in the painting. It evokes the Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome as well as the idea of spiritual discipline, although Hilma af Klint left no simple explanation that fixes its meaning here.

The word adds another layer to a composition already filled with forms that suggest development, balance and inner change. Its uncertainty is characteristic of an artistic language designed to approach experiences beyond ordinary visual representation.

Part of The Ten Largest

Hilma af Klint created the ten monumental paintings over approximately forty days in the autumn of 1907. The sequence follows four stages of human life: Childhood, Youth, Adulthood and Old Age. No. 7 is the third of the four works devoted to adulthood.

The series belongs to the much larger project The Paintings for the Temple. In these works, human development is presented primarily as a spiritual and mental process. Organic forms, letters and strong colours become signs of growth and the search for unity.

About Hilma af Klint

Hilma af Klint was born in Stockholm in 1862 and trained at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts. She first worked professionally with portraits, landscapes and botanical subjects before developing the abstract and symbolic paintings for which she is now internationally recognised.

Her close observation of plants and natural structures remained important throughout her work. In The Ten Largest, botanical shapes expand to a monumental scale and merge with geometry, colour and a personal spiritual vocabulary.

Artwork details

Available sizes

Expressive colour for the interior

The rich purple background and clear yellow, green and orange accents give the poster a strong decorative presence. It works beautifully in a living room, bedroom, creative workspace or colourful gallery wall.

Explore more visionary works in our collection of Swedish art, or place it beside The Ten Largest, No. 6, Adulthood to continue the sequence.

Frequently asked questions

What does The Ten Largest No. 7 represent?

The painting represents one of the four stages of adulthood in Hilma af Klint’s series. Its subject concerns spiritual and mental development rather than a literal scene from everyday life.

What do the letters U, W and S mean?

Hilma af Klint used letters throughout The Paintings for the Temple. U and W often refer to spirit and matter, while the meaning of each sign can vary according to its context.

What does “vestalasket” mean?

The Swedish expression can be translated as “Vestal ascetic”. It may evoke spiritual dedication and the Vestal tradition, but the artist left no single definitive explanation for its role in this painting.

When was the painting created?

Hilma af Klint created the painting in 1907 as part of The Ten Largest, a monumental sequence completed over approximately forty days.

What paper is the poster printed on?

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

Is a frame included?

No, the frame is not included. You can choose a frame that suits the poster and your interior.