François Chifflart, l'insoumis: the exhibition on the master of black and white at the Maison de Victor Hugo

At just 26, François Chifflart won the prestigious Grand Prix de Rome. Despite his talent, the painter did not enjoy the great career he deserved. Discover this rebellious artist in a retrospective at the Maison de Victor Hugo, from November 7, 2024 to March 23, 2025.

The François Chifflart, l'insoumis exhibition brings together 170 works, tracing the chaotic career of this master painter. Through illustrations, etchings, drawings and engravings, visitors can admire the talent of this artist, a master in the art of black and white.

Born in the Pas-de-Calais region of France, and trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, François Chifflart had everything it took to become a renowned artist. However, his independent spirit, his questioning of academism and the powers that be, undermined his career, and pushed him into the shadows of the 19th-century art scene.

François Chifflart was a lover of Victor Hugo's work. In 1867, he was commissioned to illustrate the novel Les Travailleurs de la Mer. This immersion in the writer's work was the beginning of a new and profound passion. The painter and illustrator also made a name for himself with his drawings for Notre-Dame de Paris and La Légende des Siècles: over the years, François Chifflart has established himself as a master of Victor Hugo's work.

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An idealistic artist, François Chifflart was both appreciated and disparaged by his contemporaries. In a chronological tour, this exhibition reveals the successes, failures and contradictions that marked the painter's career. We discover his inspirations and influences, and his strong originality, which earned him the contempt of the powers that be.

Despite this lack of support, the artist was determined to make his mark. He immortalizes the Paris Commune, the violent fighting and fires that scarred the capital. These events put an end to his work on La Chanson de Roland. After this chapter, commissions became rarer, the artist's supporters gradually disappeared, and François Chifflart fell into oblivion.

Unjustly overlooked and under-appreciated, the artist is back in the spotlight, thanks to this retrospective exhibition organized by the Maison de Victor Hugo. Don't miss this exhibition, and come and (re)discover the great masterpieces of this long-forgotten French painter!