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L'Eclair (Lightning)

Victor Hugo

1868

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

L'Eclair (Lightning) is a 1868 ink by Victor Hugo, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Victor Hugo
When & what style?: 1868 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a dark, moody scene with a lightning bolt striking down. The sky is filled with thick, heavy clouds, and the ground is rough and rocky. In the distance, there's a faint outline of buildings or trees, but they're hard to make out. The artist has used a lot of dark shading to create a sense of drama and tension. The lightning bolt is the brightest part of the painting, and it stands out against the dark background. The overall effect is one of energy and power. If you're interested in learning more about this style of painting, you might want to check out the Impressionism movement.