Taylor Swift fans flock to German museum to see Ophelia painting

A German museum has experienced an unexpected surge in visitors, thanks to Taylor Swift’s latest album, *The Life of a Showgirl*. The Hessische Landesmuseum in Wiesbaden, Germany, has seen a significant increase in foot traffic as fans flock to view Friedrich Heyser’s 1900 painting of Ophelia, which inspired the opening scene of Swift’s music video for *The Fate of Ophelia*. The video, which has garnered over 65 million views on YouTube, features the painting coming to life with Swift at its center. Museum spokesperson Susanne Hirschmann expressed delight at the newfound attention, noting that visitors have traveled from as far as Hamburg and nearby U.S. military bases. The museum’s online announcement about the painting’s connection to Swift went viral, with social media posts receiving thousands of likes. The painting, which depicts Ophelia lying drowned in water surrounded by flowers, aligns with the album’s themes and cover art. Museum director Andreas Henning praised Swift’s use of the painting as inspiration, calling it a unique opportunity to attract new audiences. *The Life of a Showgirl* has already broken records, becoming the UK’s biggest album debut of 2025 and surpassing Adele’s *25* in U.S. sales. This marks Swift’s third UK chart-topping album this year, following *Lover (Live From Paris)* and *The Tortured Poets Department*. The album also follows Swift’s recent personal milestones, including her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce and regaining control of her music catalog.