Portret van Victor Hugo c. 1895 - 1930

This is a portrait of Victor Hugo, made by an anonymous artist. The sepia tones create a somber, contemplative mood. The subject, Victor Hugo, sits with a hand resting on his forehead, his gaze intense, his presence commanding. I imagine the artist, whoever they were, circling the subject, searching for the right angle, the right light to capture his essence. They capture the feeling of a great man in thought. The way Hugo is posed, with his hand on his head, reminds me of Rodin's "Thinker." It makes you wonder what was going through his mind, what great works were gestating at that moment. The soft focus almost romanticizes the image, adding to the sense of him being elevated to a near-mythical status. It’s a timeless image.