The Valkyrie (1877)

Dated 1877, "The Valkyrie" is an artwork by Hans Makart. It is listed in the Mythology collection. The image is in portrait orientation. Mythology in brief: Artists from the Renaissance to the Symbolists returned to myth to explore love, power, fate, and transformation. Mythological painting draws on stories from Greek and Roman myth, and on other traditions such as Norse, Celtic, and Hindu narrative. Context for 1877: Japanese prints reached Europe in large numbers and influenced many artists, while photography changed what painting needed to do. In the 1890s, colour lithography and Art Nouveau made the illustrated poster a celebrated art form.

Buying "The Valkyrie" means getting a digital file, not a physical print: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI, delivered by email once payment is confirmed. A 300 DPI file is intended for printing at home or at a local print shop, where you can choose a matte, satin, or fine-art paper to suit the room. A portrait format suits narrow wall spaces, hallways, and the area beside a door or window. A simple frame with a mat often helps an image settle comfortably into a room. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size.

Austrian, 1840–1884

If you like the visual language of Hans Makart, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.