Swifties bring pop magic to classical muse 'Ophelia'

Taylor Swift fans sang and danced this weekend to her new hit 'The Fate of Ophelia' at a German museum exhibiting a painting believed to have inspired the video for the chart-topping single from her latest album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'.

Many arrived dressed as Ophelia, wearing white gowns and flowers in their hair, while others sparkled in Swift-style outfits as they descended on the western town of Wiesbaden for a special event centred around Shakespeare's tragic heroine.

The painting by German artist Friedrich Heyser depicts 'Ophelia' in a white dress floating among flowers in a river before her death. In the music video's opening, Swift recreates the scene before the painting comes alive and she begins to sing.

Since the single's release last month, the Wiesbaden Museum has seen a surge of visitors, many eager to glimpse the work now linked to the global superstar. "It's incredible that this picture, which inspired Taylor Swift, is hanging here in Wiesbaden," said Corinna Greiner, a 47-year-old office worker.

About 200 fans attended the sold-out event, which began with a lecture by one of the museum's experts on the painting's history. Moments later, 'The Fate of Ophelia' echoed through the hall as fans danced in front of Heyser's artwork and queued for selfies.

"I really love art, and I wanted to see the connection between the 'Ophelia' painting and Taylor Swift in real life," said Isabelle Bastian, a 26-year-old student. "The atmosphere is great — it's like a mini-concert."

Heyser is thought to have completed the work, depicting Ophelia — a noblewoman from Denmark who descends into madness and drowns — around 1900. It has been part of the Wiesbaden Museum's collection since 2019.

Museum director Andreas Henning said they were unaware of the painting's inclusion in Swift's video until social media lit up after the single's release in October. "We were very surprised," he said. "Swifties are coming from Germany, France, and England — it's a big phenomenon."

He added that the museum had not been contacted by Swift or her management regarding the connection between her hit and Heyser's painting, which has now become an unlikely cultural bridge between pop music and classical art.