The artwork titled “The Upper Rhine” is a creation by Victor Hugo, dated to the year 1855. This piece is characteristic of the Symbolism art movement and falls within the landscape genre.
“The Upper Rhine” presents a panoramic view dominated by an expansive river landscape. The composition is rendered in deep, evocative hues of brown, ochre, and muted grays, suggesting a dramatic and atmospheric scene. The distant silhouette of a fortress or castle occupies the right portion of the artwork, standing prominently against the subdued sky. The land formations appear to be rugged and uneven, indicative of the Upper Rhine’s natural geography, while patches of white on the water’s surface might depict reflection or lighter areas of the river. The overall mood evokes a sense of melancholy and grandeur, characteristic of Symbolism, where landscapes often carry deeper emotional and conceptual meanings beyond their physical representation.