The artwork, titled “La tour des rats,” was created by Victor Hugo in 1847. Belonging to the Symbolism art movement, this piece falls under the landscape genre.
In the artwork, a sense of foreboding permeates the scene, with its dark, muted tones contributing to a somewhat eerie atmosphere. The viewer’s eye is drawn to a solitary sailboat on a body of water, set against a backdrop of formidable mountains and dramatic skies. A notable feature is the towering, crumbling structures, possibly castles or ruins, which add an element of decay and historical depth to the composition. The overall ambiance is one of melancholy and mystery, typical of the Symbolist movement’s emphasis on evoking emotional and symbolic meaning through art.
