Victor Hugo's opinion on depictions of Jean Valjean in fanart
So, in April 1862, 21 year old Julien Girard de Rialle published a “Critique of the Critiques” of Les Misérables his newspaper the Revue théâtrale, littéraire et artistique, along with the above image by up-and-coming artist (and former bookstore employee) Rodolphe Julian.
Naturally, de Rialle sent the paper to Victor Hugo, who sent this letter in reply:
Your April edition is only arriving to me in June. Absence has its displeasures to which one must be resigned. Your article charmed me. Nothing but grace, wit, and verve! I thank those who have the goodness to be my enemies, their attacks are caresses because they bring me such defenses.
I shake your hand, Monsieur.
Victor Hugo
P.S. Please congratulate on my behalf the author of the drawing, which is truly lovely and which couldn't be clearer. The bishop is sleeping soundly, the convict is hesitating profoundly. Perhaps the beard is too long. It's only a few days' growth. I make this observation because other painters have made the same small mistake.
So there you have it: temper your desire to give Valjean too long a beard.
Source: Un article prenant la defense des Miserables, une gravure pour leur illustration, et la lettre de remerciement de Victor Hugo, procurés et commentés par Gérard Pouchain (Pouchain is such a treasure trove of information of Les Mis related content. If he didn't already exist, I would have to become him. )
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Carlo Chiostri Valjean Teaches Cosette to Read
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He is THE silly, THE blorbo I will have you know. (Reupload due to adjustments)
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We've reached the end of 2023 Les Mis Letters. What beautiful and melancholy imagery to end on.
Thank you @lesmisletters for your hard work and to everyone who participated- I have absolutely loved seeing everyone's opinions, analyses, art, writing, and memes. It's been a joy to read alongside you all!
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This crunchy scan of the illustration for today's Les Mis chapter really makes it look like Marius is just planking in the middle of the road while Jean Valjean looks away in utter disgust.
Do any non-horrible scans exist of the illustrations by Pierre Georges Jeanniot for the 1890 Édition Nationale (published by Émile Testard)? I mean... the scan of the next chapter's illustration is even funnier. SHIT'S DARK IN THE SEWERS, MAN. Here's a black rectangle to give you a visual.
I searched around for a while but could only find different (and better) digitized versions for a few of his Les Mis illustrations, not nearly all of them.
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Do you ever just suddenly get hit with a nostalgia wave out of the blue?
I randomly remembered Soul Eater and the witch Eruka Frog. So I drew her.
Web Comic |Ko-Fi |YouTube | Commissions | Redbubble
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Carlo Chiostri Cosette and her doll
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