In the 1850s, Victor Hugo emerged as a key figure of Romanticism, known for literary masterpieces like Notre-Dame de Paris (1831) and Les Misérables (1862). After the 1848 Revolution, he became politically active as a defender of the Republic, but his opposition to Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte’s coup in 1851 led to his exile. Despite experiencing exile as an injustice, he remained prolific in his writing and artistic experimentation.
His time in Jersey, followed by his stay in Guernsey, proved creatively fruitful, as the island’s wild nature and ocean views from his home, Marine Terrace, inspired much of his graphic work. During this period, he explored various artistic forms, particularly through his cut-out drawings. The creation of his découpages, which began in 1850 and grew considerably in the following years of exile, entailed the cutting off of sections from larger drawings in order to reveal unique perspectives and details within his compositions. By incorporating ink, watercolours, and other materials in his fragments, he created works imbued with literary depth.
Our drawing offers an evocative close-up of a coastal landscape of the north end tip of the island of Jersey, on the route des Havres. The aerial perspective invites viewers to hover over the scene, immersing them in a loosely sketched, chaotic environment. His employment of innovative techniques, namely frottage and grattage, challenge traditional drawing methods. Although few drawings from this period have survived to this day, our fragment clearly displays the modernity of Hugo’s Jersey works by foreshadowing the experimental techniques of Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism. By showcasing his desire to move beyond the rigid vocabulary of empirical illusionism that had dominated European art since the 14th century, our drawing crystallises his quest for technical progress and innovative expression.