Wotan's farewell
1910
Ferdinand Leeke captures the heartbreaking farewell between the god Wotan and the Valkyrie Brünnhilde, a pivotal moment from Richard Wagner's famous opera cycle. Painted in 1910 in the Romantic style, this scene shows Wotan kissing his disobedient daughter goodbye before placing her in a magical sleep surrounded by fire. Notice the incredible detail in Brünnhilde's scale armor and the wild, flowing red hair that connects the two figures, symbolizing their deep bond even as they are forced apart. Leeke was practically the official painter of Wagner's myths, and this piece perfectly captures the tragic romance and Norse mythology that fascinated the early 20th century.
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