die versenkung des nibelungenhortes in den rhein Hans Makart (1840-1884)

The composition presents a dramatic scene unfolding across two distinct registers, visually separated by a turbulent expanse of water. The lower portion is dominated by a chaotic mass of figures, rendered in warm, earthy tones – ochres, browns, and reds – suggesting turmoil and destruction. These individuals appear to be struggling within the churning waters, their bodies contorted in expressions of anguish or exertion. A sense of overwhelming force presses down upon them; they are clearly being submerged. The details of individual faces are lost within this collective struggle, emphasizing the universality of suffering and loss.
Above this watery chaos, a contrasting scene emerges bathed in cool blues and golds. Here we see a group of figures ascending into a luminous sky, seemingly unaffected by the devastation below. They appear to be ethereal beings, possibly deities or spirits, their forms rendered with greater clarity and grace than those struggling in the depths. A central female figure, presumably a goddess, sits enthroned amidst this celestial assembly, radiating an aura of power and serenity. The light emanating from her and surrounding figures creates a sense of transcendence, suggesting a realm beyond earthly suffering.
The artist employed a dramatic chiaroscuro effect to heighten the emotional impact. The stark contrast between the dark, turbulent lower register and the bright, luminous upper register reinforces the thematic division between destruction and redemption, despair and hope. The use of swirling brushstrokes throughout contributes to the overall sense of movement and instability, particularly in the depiction of the water itself.
Subtly, a pyramidal structure is discernible within the composition. The base forms from the struggling figures below, rising towards the central female figure who occupies the apex. This arrangement lends a formal dignity to the scene while simultaneously emphasizing her position as a source of salvation or deliverance.
The painting seems to explore themes of loss, sacrifice, and the cyclical nature of destruction and renewal. It suggests that even in moments of profound tragedy, there exists the possibility of transcendence and rebirth. The separation between the suffering below and the serenity above implies a moral judgment – perhaps those who succumb to greed or ambition are destined for ruin, while those who embody virtue may ascend to a higher plane of existence.