Victor Hugo, 1st plate 

Alphonse Legros created this print of Victor Hugo, capturing the gravitas of the celebrated French novelist and poet. Legros, living in 19th-century France, himself knew something of the politics of exile, living in London as he did. Considered through the lens of celebrity and representation, this portrait invites us to reflect on how artists and writers of the time shaped their public images. Hugo, a towering figure in French literature and politics, navigated the complexities of fame and influence during a period of intense social and political change. Legros, through his art, immortalizes Hugo, but also subtly comments on the nature of power and legacy. In his image, Hugo's gaze is intense, almost confrontational. It's as if he's challenging us, the viewers, to grapple with the weighty ideas he championed in his writings, perhaps inviting us to consider whose stories are deemed worthy of remembrance.