“Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo” at the Royal Academy of Arts

21 March – 29 June 2025 – The Jillian and Arthur M. Sackler Wing of Galleries

This spring, the Royal Academy of Arts presents “Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo,” a comprehensive survey of the rarely seen works on paper by the renowned 19th-century French politician, author, and artist. This landmark exhibition, which marks the first UK showing of Hugo’s drawings in over fifty years, features around 70 artworks from important European collections.

Victor Hugo, best known for his literary masterpieces such as Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, was also an avid artist. His drawings, which range from early caricatures and travel sketches to dramatic landscapes and abstract experiments, reflect his deep preoccupations with nature, time, and personal mythology. The exhibition explores Hugo’s dual pursuits of writing and drawing, which he approached as parallel creative tracks.

The exhibition is organized thematically into several sections:

• Writing and Drawing: Explores the interplay between Hugo’s textual and visual arts, showing how these two forms share metaphorical structures.
• Observation and Imagination: Features Hugo’s detailed topographical studies alongside abstract works that reflect his interest in spiritualism and the irrational.
• Fantasy and Reality: Focuses on Hugo’s obsession with castles, showcasing how he used memory and imagination in his artistic representations.
• Nature and the Ocean: Highlights drawings related to Hugo’s novel The Toilers of the Sea and other marine themes.

Key pieces include the enigmatic drawing Mushroom (1850) and the large multi-plate print The Castle with the Cross(1850), among others. These works showcase Hugo’s innovative techniques, such as employing stencils for tonal contrasts and experimenting with materials to create unique textures.

The exhibition is a collaboration between the Royal Academy of Arts, Paris Musées – Maison de Victor Hugo, and the Bibliothèque nationale de France, curated by Sarah Lea with assistance from Rose Thompson.

Admission:

• General admission starts at £17, with concessions available.
• Free for under 16s and Friends of the RA.
• Half-price tickets available for 16 to 25-year-olds.

Tickets: Advance booking is recommended. Tickets can be booked online or over the phone (0207 300 8090).

Dates and Opening Hours:

• Exhibition dates: 21 March – 29 June 2025
• Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 6pm; Fridays until 9pm.

For further details about the exhibition and to view publicity images, visit the Royal Academy of Arts official website.

Join the conversation about the exhibition online using #RAVictorHugo on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter.