Try GOLD - Free
Art review Murky masterpieces reveal Victor Hugo's huge heart
The Guardian
|March 19, 2025
Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo Royal Academy, London
Victor Hugo is the French equivalent of Shakespeare and Dickens. The inventor of Quasimodo and Jean Valjean is so universal that we absorb his myths even if we have never read him.
Yet how much do most of us know about Hugo himself? By dedicating an exhibition to this versatile creator's visual art, which started with caricatures and developed into surreal masterpieces, the Royal Academy does something unexpectedly moving. It shows his secret heart.
For instance Hugo's feelings about the death penalty are clear. His 1854 drawing Ecce Lex (Behold the Law) is a macabre inky portrait of a hanged corpse, part of his doomed campaign to save a murderer called John Tapner.
A few years later Hugo gave permission for this drawing to be made into a print protesting the execution of the American anti-slavery activist John Brown.
If there was a liberal cause, Hugo threw his huge heart into it.
This story is from the March 19, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian
The Guardian
Albanese announces plan to tackle 'hate preachers' after terror attack
Australia’s hate speech laws will be expanded to directly target “hate preachers” under a new push to stamp out antisemitism, as the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, conceded more could have been done to combat anti-Jewish sentiment ahead of the Bondi beach massacre.
3 mins
December 19, 2025
The Guardian
EU leaders race to reach deal on funding Ukraine
European Union leaders are racing to secure a funding deal for Ukraine that has been cast as a choice between “money today or blood tomorrow”, as Belgium comes under rising pressure over its opposition to a loan secured against Russia's frozen assets.
1 min
December 19, 2025
The Guardian
England's hopes melt away in sun as Cummins glows with authority
Tourists teetering 158 behind after Australia captain leads fine bowling display by hosts
4 mins
December 19, 2025
The Guardian
Stay home if you have symptoms of flu, say experts amid fears of second surge
People should stay home over the Christmas period if they have symptoms of flu or Covid, experts have warned, amid fears flu cases could surge again in the new year.
2 mins
December 19, 2025
The Guardian
Reform Farage avoids inquiry into electoral spending claims
Nigel Farage has avoided investigation over claims that his general election campaign breached electoral law last year.
1 mins
December 19, 2025
The Guardian
Traffic to hit record levels in run-up to Christmas
Britain’s roads and runways will take a festive pounding today as traffic peaks before Christmas and record numbers head to the skies.
1 mins
December 19, 2025
The Guardian
Duke accused of strangling estranged wife
The Duke of Marlborough has been accused of strangling his estranged wife.
1 min
December 19, 2025
The Guardian
Ryder Cup hero McIlroy wins Sports Personality of the Year
A full-throated “Rory Roar” reverberated around MediaCity in Salford last night as Rory McIlroy became the first golfer in 36 years to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award - and tie a bow on a year for the ages.
3 mins
December 19, 2025
The Guardian
Reiners' cause of death is given as 'multiple sharp force injuries'
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has released reports stating the cause of death of the film director Rob Reiner and his wife, the photographer Michele Singer Reiner.
1 mins
December 19, 2025
The Guardian
Author says schools should use thrillers to build reading skills
Too much of the literature taught in UK schools puts children off reading and thrillers should become part of the curriculum, one of the world's biggest-selling authors has argued.
2 mins
December 19, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size