The Hunchback of Notre-Dame 1881

"The Hunchback of Notre-Dame," created in 1881 by Luc-Oliver Merson, depicts a dramatic scene from Victor Hugo's novel. The viewer looks down from the heights of Notre-Dame Cathedral, witnessing a cityscape of Paris and gargoyles perched on the building's edges. The central figure, Quasimodo, is dramatically positioned, emphasizing his outcast status within the grand architecture of the cathedral. Merson's detailed engraving emphasizes the Gothic style of Notre-Dame and the fantastical creatures that inhabit the building, creating a sense of mystery and beauty within the city's urban landscape.