Artwork
Victor Hugo, De Face
Victor Hugo, De Face is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Rodin. It dates from 1886 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Victor Hugo, De Face is a drypoint print created by Auguste Rodin in 1886. It is a portrait of the writer Victor Hugo, executed in a medium not typically associated with the sculptor.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a bearded man's face, although the visual note indicates the face is in profile, not de face as the title suggests. A smaller sketch of a hand holding an object is also present. The work is a tribute to Victor Hugo, as indicated by the artist's signature and accompanying text.
Technique & Style
The drypoint technique is evident in the rough, grainy texture of the print and the scratchy lines used to create the image. Rodin's style is characterized by loose, textured renderings of hair and beard, suggesting a sense of movement and energy.
History & Provenance
The print was created during a period when Rodin's unconventional style was challenging traditional norms in figurative sculpture. Although Rodin is primarily known as a sculptor, this work demonstrates his experimentation with printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
François Auguste René Rodin (; French: ; 12 November 1840 – 17 November 1917) was a French sculptor generally considered the founder of modern sculpture.
