- Artist
- Victor Hugo (French, 1802–1885)
- Medium
- Brush with brown ink and brown wash, over black crayon and graphite, with shellac, on ivory wove paper, laid down on tan wove paper
- Size
- 26.8 × 46.5 cm (10 9/16 × 18 5/16 in.)
- Rights
- CC0 — no rights reserved
In addition to being a major presence in nineteenth-century French literature, Victor Hugo holds a unique position in the realm of the visual arts. His drawings established him as one of the most influential draftsmen of his time, a bridge between the romantics and the symbolists. It is the large-scale abstract works, such as this drawing, broadly handled, unclear, brooding, and mysterious, which are Hugo's greatest legacy. This particular drawing was obviously highly prized by Hugo; only his major works received lengthy dedications, and this drawing is inscribed on both the mat and frame. The inscription reads in part: "Standing, facing each other, they resemble two black giants ready for battle.”
Text: Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0.
