Expectation (1905-09) By Gustav Klimt Statue

This artwork originates from the Stoclet Frieze in Brussels. Architect Josef Hoffman was to design and Gustave Klimt to decorate the dining room of an estate bought by Josef Hoffman with a frieze. His theme was "The New Cycle of Life". The Stoclet Frieze, 1909-11 has a three-part mosaic -- Expectation, Fulfillment and Pattern --which were executed at the Vienna Workshop and utilized the finest and most luxurious materials available including marble, gold leaf, silver and semiprecious stones. 

Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) was a leading figure in the innovative artist collective known as the Vienna Secession and is widely regarded as a pioneer of modern art. His distinctive style, often associated with Jugendstil (Art Nouveau), radiates a mesmerizing allure, deeply influenced by the fin-de-siècle spirit of late 19th-century Vienna—a world that was elitist, liberal, decadent, and richly decorative.

Klimt’s work is instantly recognizable for its monumental compositions, merging Byzantine-inspired ornamentation with classical symbolism, all set against the lingering backdrop of Romanticism that defined his era. His art doesn’t merely appeal to the eye—it invites the viewer into a realm of sensuality, mysticism, and idealized beauty.