Kanye West paints a moving portrait in the 90-second video for “POWER,” the first single from his fifth studio album, tentatively titled Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Inspired by Michelangelo’s frescos in the Sistine Chapel, the piece combines motion and imagery to depict a faux historical moment—an empire on the brink of collapse from its own excess, decadence, and corruption.

“It’s a moment of transition for [Kanye],” says director Marco Brambilla. “It’s like the end of an empire. It’s him becoming mortal again.”

Watch the rise and fall of Mr. West below.