Victor Hugo
1885
Rodin is world-famous for his sculptures, but he also produced thousands of rapid, expressive drawings and prints like this one. Created in 1885, this striking portrait of the legendary French writer Victor Hugo captures the poet's intense, weathered face with scratchy lines that seem to vibrate with energy. You can spot a smaller profile study in the bottom right corner, showing how the artist explored different angles to capture the essence of his subject. Rodin was deeply inspired by Hugo's poetry and often sketched the writer from memory and imagination rather than a live sitting, letting his hand move freely across the page.
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