Theosophical Methods of Early Abstract Art and Modern Implications

68 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Art and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Spring 2017This thesis explores the link between theosophy, a spiritual philosophy derived from Hinduism popular at the turn of the twentieth century, and the birth of abstract art. Theosophy is well documented to have been an interest of many of the most famous early abstract artists, and the ideas presented by theosophy is clearly represented in these artists’ work and writing. Theosophy has a special emphasis on unseen forces in the universe, and of the action of the human soul. These emphases have also been applied by a number of theosophical writers to the observation of the physical action of the soul, and to explaining artistic values in terms of theosophy. Contemporary science was also commonly applied to theosophy, in terms of the new theories of the time regarding physics and psychology. These topics were a source of inspiration for the artists being discussed, which are Wassily Kandinsky, Hilma af Klint, Kasimir Malevich, and Frantisek Kupka I will also be discussing how my work as a painter over the 2016/2017 school year was informed by my research