Ahasuerus at the End of the World 1888

Adolf Hirémy-Hirschl’s *Ahasuerus at the End of the World* (1888) is a dramatic depiction of the Wandering Jew, a figure condemned to walk the earth until the Second Coming of Christ. The painting presents Ahasuerus in a desolate landscape of ice and broken structures, surrounded by ravens. A skeletal figure representing Death is pulling a bearded man, perhaps a prophet, toward the end of the world. Above them, a radiant angel in a white gown soars through the sky. This symbolism evokes a sense of both despair and hope, suggesting the eternal struggle between good and evil. The work’s dramatic composition and use of light and shadow add to its impact and reflect the influence of Romanticism and Symbolism, popular art movements in the late 19th century.