1. Symbols and signs

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Circles, squares and crosses, shells, spirals and letters. Constantly and enigmatically, they form the motifs in Hilma's paintings, along with many figurative works of art. It's hard not to get the feeling that everything is somehow connected, like a story from A to Z or A to O as in this picture. It was painted in 1908 and is part of a group called Evolution. Telling red is the background color of this painting. I am A&O, the first and the last says Jesus in the Book of Revelation. The Christian story is the basis of Hilma's life, the symbols its complement. As a forerunner of Marc Chagall, in her paintings for the temple woman and man constantly recur together with biblical scenes and symbols. Love is Hilma's theme and message. What follows is an interpretation of the temple paintings that are clearly based on Hilma's Christian faith.