Portrait of Victor Hugo c. 1878

Editor: This is Alphonse Legros's "Portrait of Victor Hugo," a blue toned drawing. Hugo's got such a serious, contemplative expression. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: The solemnity speaks volumes, doesn’t it? But look closer: Hugo, the literary giant, is framed not just as an individual but as a symbol of the intellectual resistance against oppressive regimes. Legros, through this melancholic portrayal, seems to acknowledge Hugo’s exile and his unwavering fight for justice. Do you see how the downward gaze implies reflection, perhaps even a burden? Editor: That's a completely different reading than what I had. I was just seeing sadness! Curator: It's both. The personal and the political are intertwined. Legros uses Hugo's image to comment on the societal constraints of the time. Think about the power dynamics at play. What did Hugo represent to those in power? Editor: Someone to be feared, maybe? I see that better now. Thank you!