Hope II by Gustav Klimt explores the psyche of a woman bearing a child. It portrays anxieties and hopes and prayers towards both the wellbeing of the fetus as well as the mother. The work explores the connection of mother to child as well as to death and most forwardly: hope. The medium is oil, gold and Platinum. As you move closer to the painting you can observe the metallic reflection of the work which is a crucial part of Klimt’s Work. It explores the Jugendstil way of painting which emerged after the Neukunstgruppe formed, which amongst others also entailed Egon Schiele. The focus lays mainly on the bent-down posture of the pregnant woman, imitated by the women underneath her. Yet also Klimt’s love for fabric with vivid colors, gold and geometric Figures. Learning on her stomach and clothed in colorful fabric, we can observe a grey skull, symbolizing death and mourning.
The painting was made in 1907-1908 in Vienna and I believe Gustav Klimt was influenced by Freud’s theories to a great extent which emerged at a similar time and were one of the First to explore the female psyche and sex in relation to wishes of pregnancies and sexual desire. In the painting he depicted Herma, one of his favorite models who was heavily pregnant. I believe the painting portrays an hommage to the female psyche: desires and fears.
I have been connection very deeply to this Artwork because I have seen many of Klimts and Schiele’s Artwork and was particularly moved by the Secession in Vienna, one of my favorite spaces. I do find it extremely upsetting nevertheless that this piece of art belongs to the MoMa, separated from his other pieces of Art in Vienna. Furthermore i have been studying Freud’s theories intensely lately and am reading “the Sex which is Not one” at the Moment which serves as a great inspiration to me and i believe it also served as a great inspiration for Klimt too.
I believe it is a very Strong piece of Work since i am a strong advocate for speaking Out about the female psyche in relation to pregnancies and sexuality, which I think has been a neglected field of study and one of the greatest mysteries of the human existence. I think the vivid colors, gold and geometric Figures serve as a beautiful contrast and exhibit an astonishing Exploration of the topic. What i think could be seen as a minor limitation ist the space above the woman’s head in the background which has been neglected.
