The Rhine-Maiden's Triumph in Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods

“The Rhine-Maidens obtain possession of the Ring and bear it off in triumph” is the last of many magnificent illustrations in Authur Rackham’s Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods; an operatic epic inspired by Norse Mythology written by Richard Wagner. The Rhine-Maidens are center stage in the dramatic atmosphere of the illustration. Being set amidst a raging sea storm: the world is painted in shades of dark blues, grays and inky black. Where the only hint of warmth is found in the pale of the Rhine-Maiden’s flesh. The contrast of their skin against the seafoam emphasizes the silhouette of their figure. The Rhine-Maidens were created to capture attention, by both Rackham and Wagner.

The Rhine-Maidens are the only characters in Richard Wagner’s legendary saga “The Ring of the Nibelung” that were not taken from the Old Norse Eddas. Every other named character can be found in either the Poetic Edda or the Prose Edda. They are a 19th century creation of Wagner’s. A creation that Arthur Rackham brings to page with a gravitas that makes them appear to be apart of a deeper history. Unbound by the physical limitations of theater, Rackham depicts the Rhine-Maidens as embodiments of the Romantic sublime. Sublime as an overwhelming emotion between awe and terror, especially in the response to natural phenomena, that was a characteristic of the late 18th to mid-19th century Romantic artistic and literary movement. 

Arthur Rackham’s painting of the Rhine-Maidens shows them not simply as beautiful women. They are a force of nature. The waves fold around them, bending where they bend, directing the line of movement into them. Up the curve of a Rhine-Maiden’s back as Hagen, the dark bearded Villain of the saga, is rendered helpless as they push and pull him between them. His grasping hand reaching toward the Rhine-Maiden holding the ring, his fingers are unable to touch her, as he is dragged into the watery depths. 

“The Rhine-Maidens obtain possession of the Ring and bear it off in triumph” ends Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods with a feeling of wild beauty and grief- created by the dark cool colorsscheme, blending lines of movement and heavy shadows-but also satisfaction. The murky depths allow for the light to shine brighter in contrast. The triumph comes from the pleased expression and outstretched arms of the Rhine-Maiden who stands proudly against the raging sea storm with the ring between her fingers. Her smile sublime as the Seafoam gathers at her feet.