Valkyrie and a Dying Hero 

Curator: The atmosphere! Swirling, turbulent brushstrokes. It feels almost overwhelming. Editor: And appropriately so, I think. We are looking at a work entitled “Valkyrie and a Dying Hero,” painted by Hans Makart. A quintessential Romantic work, wouldn’t you agree? Curator: Absolutely. Romanticism drips from every brushstroke. Let’s begin with the obvious symbolic elements. The Valkyrie, of course, is a powerful symbol, a figure from Norse mythology responsible for choosing who lives and dies on the battlefield, whisking the souls of worthy warriors away to Valhalla. The selection is happening right before our very eyes. Editor: You are absolutely correct. Visually, notice the way Makart positions the Valkyrie and the dying hero. She literally hovers in the middle of the composition, larger and seemingly lighter than her earthbound counterpart. A strong diagonal line begins with the white steed rearing behind her and moves towards the hero below; his gaze leads our eyes upwards to meet the figure who decides his fate. Curator: Her red cloak seems to imply the carnage of battle. Look at the tender gesture as she leans in to kiss him. It echoes similar iconography found across cultures—the gentle taking of a soul. There is the "kiss of life" in so many narratives of near-death experiences, as well as "the kiss of death." Here, the two are intertwined in an ambiguous offering. This duality really speaks to how the painting makes you think about life and death. Editor: Ambiguity is key. Makart’s application of the oil paint certainly helps achieve this ethereal mood. The brushwork seems looser in the landscape itself, focusing our attention primarily on the human figures. Notice, too, how the ruins of a city smolder faintly in the background, underscoring a sense of decay and perhaps historical grandeur reduced to rubble. Curator: The work as a whole acts as a bridge between cultural memory and personal introspection. The viewer can connect the mythological figure with larger existential themes. Editor: I agree. The tension between its formal construction and mythological elements adds depth to this emotional tableau.