Affiche voor Die Walküre van Richard Wagner 1893

Eugène Grasset created this poster for Richard Wagner's opera, Die Walküre, in France, during the late 19th century when Wagner's operas were sparking both enthusiasm and debate across Europe. Grasset's image reflects the cultural fascination with mythology, particularly Norse legends, that swept through artistic circles at the time. Notice how the stylized figures and the decorative elements, especially in the armor and background, draw from both Art Nouveau and a romanticized vision of medieval design. This fusion speaks to a desire to connect with a heroic, pre-industrial past, but also to create something radically new. The poster served a clear promotional function, enticing audiences to the theater. Yet it also participated in a broader cultural conversation about national identity and artistic innovation. To fully understand this work, we might delve into theater archives, reviews of Wagner's operas, and design journals from the period. Such sources reveal the complex interplay between art, commerce, and cultural values in turn-of-the-century Europe.