Podcast Summary: Hoy por Hoy

Episode: El artesano | 'Ofelia' de John Everett Millais

Date: October 13, 2025
Host(s): Àngels Barceló (B), Pablo Ortiz de Zárate (C)

Episode Overview

This episode of "El artesano," within the magazine slot of Hoy por Hoy, explores the connections between pop culture and classic art. Centerpiece of the discussion is the iconic painting Ophelia by John Everett Millais, sparked by Taylor Swift's recent album cover and song referencing the Shakespearean character. Through a vivid, passionate conversation, listeners are treated to rich historical, artistic, and emotional insights about the artwork, its creators, and its continuing resonance. The episode intertwines art history, biography, and cultural commentary, making the narrative accessible and emotionally engaging.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Taylor Swift Connection

• [00:32] The episode opens with Pablo Ortiz de Zárate’s fascination: Taylor Swift’s album cover strikingly resembles Millais’ Ophelia.
• [01:08] B: “La he traído y cuando la vi dije a mí me suena. Me recuerda a algo.”
• [01:13] C: “Me recuerda a un cuadro muy famoso… que es Ofelia, de John Everett Millais.”
• Taylor Swift's lead single for the album is titled "El destino de Ofelia," mirroring the painting and including references in the music video (e.g., Swift in a similar dress and submerged in a bathtub, echoing the artwork).

2. Narrative and Analysis of Millais’ 'Ophelia'

• [02:35-05:41] Detailed breakdown of the painting’s imagery and emotional resonance:
  • Ophelia is seen floating in a river, arms outstretched, surrounded by vibrant life, yet surrendered to death.
  • The moment depicted: just before Ophelia sinks, evoking a painful yet beautiful calmness.
  • Notable characteristic: the stunning detail and tranquility of the setting, contrasted with the subject's despair.
  • [03:45] C: “Lo impresionante del cuadro es una mezcla que hace entre el dolor y la belleza increíble de la pintura.”
  • The viewer is struck by how resignation, trauma, and beauty intertwine (“El dolor te supera completamente, no puedes ni siquiera luchar”).

3. Technical and Artistic Process of the Painting

• [06:46-08:25] Millais’ dedication:
  • Painted the landscape outdoors over five months, working daily for 11 hours beside a river to replicate the flora in extraordinary detail.
  • The painting features flowers that bloom at different seasons—a testament to the months-long process.
  • [07:49] C: “El arte sólo impresiona cuando es la realidad pura y dura, lo más detallista posible.”

4. Elizabeth Siddal: The Model’s Story

• [08:33-13:38] Siddal posed for Ophelia:
  • Despite Millais painting the scenery outdoors, Siddal was painted back in London, often lying immersed in a bathtub for hours in winter, leading to illness.
  • Her eventual fate eerily mirrored Ophelia’s: suffering from depression, addiction to laudanum (opium-based medicine), and a premature death—possibly by suicide—only a decade after posing.
  • [10:41] B: "Algo así como la premonición de su propia muerte."
  • Siddal’s life: highlighted as muse, artist, and tragic figure.
  • [11:58-14:39] Explores her marriage to Dante Gabriel Rossetti, personal struggles, and societal attitudes toward women's mental health in the 19th century.

5. The Fate of Siddal's Work and Legacy

• [14:44-16:11] Despite being a poet and artist herself, Siddal’s work was unpublished during her life.
  • Her husband, Rossetti, bizarrely buried the only manuscripts with her. Seven years later, he exhumed the grave to publish her poems, spurring a macabre legend of incorruptibility and cascading hair—fabricated for publicity.
  • [15:19] C: “En ese momento la deja ahí. No sé, igual pensó que era muy romántico hacer eso ya denota que no consideraba que los poemas eran muy buenos…”

6. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and Artistic Mission

• [17:34-18:25] The episode closes with an explanation of the Pre-Raphaelite movement:
  • Strived for “truth to nature,” painting in intense detail, often dramatic, emotive, and vividly lifelike.
  • Sought to revive pre-Renaissance clarity and realism in contrast to later idealizations.
  • [17:42] C: “Ellos consideraban que Rafael en el Renacimiento endulzó demasiado los cuadros… La belleza tiene que ser como la vemos realmente.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:13] C (on the connection to Millais):
  “Me recuerda a un cuadro muy famoso que está en Londres, que es Ofelia, de John Everett Millais.”

• [03:45] C (on the painting’s emotional impact):
  “Lo impresionante del cuadro es una mezcla que hace entre el dolor y la belleza increíble de la pintura.”

• [07:49] C (on Millais’ artistic commitment):
  “El arte sólo impresiona cuando es la realidad pura y dura, lo más detallista posible.”

• [10:41] B (on Siddal’s fate):
  “Algo así como la premonición de su propia muerte.”

• [17:42] C (on pre-Raphaelitism):
  “La belleza tiene que ser como la vemos realmente... mucha emoción, mucho drama, mucha muerte, los prerrafaelitas.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:32 — Introduction to Taylor Swift connection
• 01:13 — Comparison between album cover and Millais’ Ophelia
• 02:35-04:44 — Description of the painting and its emotional expression
• 06:46-08:25 — Discussion of Millais’ painstaking painting process
• 08:33-09:39 — Technical details about the model’s sessions
• 10:41-14:39 — The life and tragic fate of Elizabeth Siddal
• 15:13-16:10 — The story of Siddal’s buried manuscripts and posthumous publication
• 17:42-18:25 — Explanation of Pre-Raphaelite art and ethos

Episode Tone

The conversation is informative but passionate, blending warmth and empathy with sharp, analytical storytelling. The hosts’ language is vivid and descriptive, seamlessly moving between historical detail, personal admiration, and critical reflection—offering listeners emotional context as well as intellectual clarity.

Conclusion

This episode provides a rich, layered exploration of art, history, and tragedy, linking Millais' Ophelia, the life of Elizabeth Siddal, and contemporary culture via Taylor Swift’s modern reinterpretation. With its compelling narrative and thoughtful insights, the episode invites both art lovers and newcomers to appreciate the enduring power and complexity behind a single, haunting image.