The artwork, titled “Ruined Aqueduct” by Victor Hugo, was created in 1850 and belongs to the Symbolism movement. It is a landscape genre piece that features evocative and dreamlike imagery characteristic of the Symbolist style.
In the artwork, the central focus is a dilapidated aqueduct, portrayed using dark and somber tones. The broken arches of the aqueduct stand starkly against a muted background, which accentuates the sense of desolation and decay. The use of rich browns and blacks evokes an almost ethereal atmosphere, suggesting themes of transience and the passage of time. The sparse and minimalistic depiction of the landscape further adds to the haunting and symbolic nature of the piece, inviting the viewer to reflect on the profound beauty and melancholy of the ruins.
