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We all know that Taylor Swift loves literature and art. (I mean, she did call herself our English teacher in her engagement post to Travis Kelce after all!). "The Fate of Ophelia" music video features so many references to different paintings and film eras that I simply had to round them all up. Once you've read through all of these, check out Every Pop Culture Reference In Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department, Explained. Because there are a lot.
Here's every art reference in "The Fate of Ophelia" music video. Did you catch them all?
"The Death of Ophelia” by Friedrich Wilhelm Theodor Heyser
Taylor’s reference to the famous Ophelia painting omg this is so beautiful #TheFateofOpheliaMusicVideo pic.twitter.com/Mz78yFj2ho
— Zain (@cowboylikezain) October 5, 2025
The opening of the music video features Taylor lying against a gorgeous painted backdrop à la "The Death of Ophelia.” It ends up being a set to play into the "showgirl" nature of the music video, but this is without a doubt my favorite moment of the video.
"Beata Beatrix" by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
TAS Rights Management/YouTube
Allegedly, painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti's wife, who modeled for "Ophelia" and died due to complications on set, is memorialized in his painting "Beata Beatrix" — which features an orange bird.
Marilyn Monroe
TAS Rights Management/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Taylor references the ultimate showgirl — Marilyn Monroe — with a blonde wig and bodysuit. The red bodysuit could also be a reference to Travis Kelce's Kansas City team?
She also seems to reference Elizabeth Taylor's classic look with a dark brown wig.
"The Sirens and Ulysses" by William Etty
The Odyssey #TheFateofOpheliaMusicVideo pic.twitter.com/6u1QsD7nr3
— nuno🧣 (@metmidnights) October 5, 2025
Taylor also references "The Sirens and Ulysses" by William Etty in "The Fate of Ophelia" music video, seemingly dressed up as Ophelia, naturally.
"Anything Goes"
TAS Rights Management/YouTube
Anything Goes features a lot of synchronized swimming choreography and images, just like this moment from the music video. The dancers all have life preservers to tease the fact Ophelia in Hamlet drowned.
"Ophelia" by John Everett Millais
The fate of Ophelia is about a prophecy that can be reversed, it's about rewriting another ending to your story changing what we thought we were meant for. A tragedy can turn into a story with a happy ending
— 𝒜𝓇𝒾🏹 (@lumostardently) October 3, 2025
We can drown in love instead of madness and pain🧡#TheLifeOfAshowgirl pic.twitter.com/MX38fUz2HW
And at the end of the video, we see Taylor lounging in a bathtub — just like she is on the cover. Tay said this represents how she used a bath to relax after every Eras Tour show, and confirmed it's inspired by the painting.
Watch "The Fate of Ophelia" Music Video Yourself To See Them All!
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