Klimt Red Pendant

DESIGNER'S NOTES

This classic silver plated pendant features the red polka dot pattern from the painting Die Hoffnung II (1907-08) by Gustav Klimt.

Around the time Klimt painted Hoffnung II or Hope II, his relationships with models were intense and often controversial. He frequently employed women from bohemian circles or professional artists’ models, cultivating intimacy that informed the eroticism and vulnerability in his work.

These interactions blurred personal and professional boundaries, contributing to rumours of affairs and impropriety. Hope II itself, with its frank depiction of pregnancy and latent sexuality, provoked public outrage in Vienna’s conservative society, challenging moral norms and the idealised female forms traditionally depicted.

The scandal intensified scrutiny of Klimt’s private life, framing him as both a visionary and provocateur. His defiance of decorum marked a pivotal moment in early modern art, linking personal relationships to broader debates on sexuality, artistic freedom, and societal expectation.

STYLING

The pendant is a few centimetres in diameter with a 450mm chain, so style outside high necklines, or against the skin with lower necklines. Wear with jewellery of similar scale, such as a simple silver bracelet.