Klimt: Hope II Lightweight Scarf

Hope II (German: Die Hoffnung II) is a 1907–1908 oil-on-canvas painting with gold and platinum, by the Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. It depicts a pregnant woman with closed eyes and was the second of Klimt’s works to focus on a pregnant woman, both depicting Herma, one of his favourite models. It was originally entitled Vision by Klimt, but has become known as Hope II after the earlier work Hope, which is now distinguished as Hope I. Hope II was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1978.

Although rare in the history of painting, Klimt frequently depicted pregnant women despite it being taboo at the time. Klimt first explored the theme in Hope I (1903), in which the heavily pregnant model, Herma, is depicted naked. It was considered outrageous by contemporaries and was rejected from the 1901 Secession exhibition on the grounds of obscenity. A later work of the same subject, Hope II was clothed and therefore less provocative. Hope II was painted at the same time as The Kiss and is similar in terms of composition and colouring.

This lightweight poly scarf brings a painterly pop of color to everyday wear. Breathable and airy, its vivid print blends warm ochres, coral reds, and jewel-toned accents into a modern, abstract motif that reads like a portable canvas. Wrap it loosely around the neck for a layered, artsy look or drape it over shoulders to brighten a simple outfit. The scarf’s soft, whisper-thin hand and subtle black edge stitching give it a finished, wearable-art feel that suits city wanderers, gallery-goers, and anyone who loves a splash of creative color at gatherings and casual evenings out.