A Century-Old Painting Just Went Viral — Thanks to Taylor Swift

A quiet German museum has become an unexpected pilgrimage site for Taylor Swift fans.

After the release of her new music video “The Fate of Ophelia,” hundreds of “Swifties” poured into the Hessische Landesmuseum in Wiesbaden to see a painting that looks uncannily like the video’s opening scene.

The artwork — an early-1900s oil painting of Ophelia by Friedrich Heyser — depicts Shakespeare’s tragic heroine floating among lilies in her final moments. The resemblance between Heyser’s composition and Swift’s recreation has sparked online speculation that the singer drew direct inspiration from the piece.

Museum officials say they’re thrilled by the sudden surge of visitors and hope to introduce new audiences to their collection, though they still haven’t heard back from Swift herself.

Director Andreas Henning told German media that he’d “love to show her the original.” Whether intentional or not, the viral connection has breathed new life into a forgotten work of art.