Taylor Swift’s upcoming album cover, “The Life of A Showgirl,” has sparked debate among fans and art historians about its influences. Shot by fashion photography duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot, the dramatic teal green and reddish-orange cover features Swift in a showgirl-inspired bejeweled bodysuit, partially submerged in cloudy water. The artwork bears similarities to John Everett Millais’ 1851-52 painting “Ophelia,” which depicts Shakespeare’s rejected lover Ophelia in moments before her tragic death by drowning.
Millais was the co-founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood group, a 19th-century art collective that sought to revive Quattrocento Italian art. Elizabeth Siddal, a muse for the group, suffered a tragic fate at just 32 years old due to an opiate overdose. Art historian Amelia Marran-Baden notes that Ophelia is a character who suffered because of patriarchal oppression, mirroring Siddal’s circumstances.
The album’s aesthetic has already begun to inspire other industries, with corporations reportedly incorporating its glittery orange and green colors into their marketing. Swift fans have also spotted similarities between the cover art and a photoshoot on America’s Next Top Model. The album “The Life of A Showgirl” is set to drop on October 3.
Source: https://hyperallergic.com/1035887/did-19th-century-ophelia-painting-inspire-taylor-swift-new-showgirl-album-art