“The King of the Auxcriniers,” created by Victor Hugo in 1864, is a symbolic painting belonging to the Symbolism art movement. The artwork portrays a fantastical creature emerging from turbulent waters against a stormy backdrop, illustrating themes and emotions characteristic of its genre.
In the artwork, a large, imposing figure, resembling a colossal amphibian or mythical sea creature, strides above menacing, frothing waves. The atmosphere is dark and tumultuous, with the creature’s prominent form contrasting starkly against the swirling, agitated sea. A distant ship, appearing on the verge of being engulfed by the storm, adds to the sense of chaos and turmoil. The monochromatic palette and dramatic brushstrokes evoke a brooding, intense mood, enhancing the symbolic nature of the scene depicted by Hugo.
