Hope II Woman Expecting Child by Gustav Klimt

Description

Hope II (Woman Expecting Child) (1907-1908)The second painting entitled “Hope II” was first shown to the public in 1909 in the Klimt room of the second Kunstschau. The first painting–which had been withdrawn from the retrospective Secessionist’s exhibition for obscenity six years earlier–was also on show there. At the time, Klimt had the following to say about the painting. “Everything is ugly, she is and what she sees, yet inside her grows beauty, hope. And her eyes express that.” The title refers to the German expression ‘in guter hoffnung’ (in good hope), which refers to a woman being pregnant. In both paintings death plays a role – literally being in the background – which is hardly surprising if you take Klimt’s painful recent experience into account. The second son he had with his model Marie Zimmerman died at just four months old.

Measures: 9.25″H x 3.75″W x 1.75″D. Part of the Parastone Mouseion Collection of museum reproductions.

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918)Klimt was a prominent member of an innovative group of artists called ‘Sezession’ and is considered to be one of the main pioneers of modern art. Apart from this, his ornamental Jugendstil style evokes an irresistible feeling which is inspired by the ‘fin-de-siecle’ of 19th century Vienna: elitist, liberal-middle class, decadent, pleasantly-decorative. His work is extremely recognizable due to his monumental style combined with Byzantine-like ornamental art and classical symbolism, created against the background of romanticism which was so characteristic of his time. In Sezession’s own words: “Art guides us to an ideal realm, the only place where we will be able to find pure joy, pure happiness and pure love. A choir of angels from paradise. Joy given by divine sparkles. That kiss from the entire world!”