The Victor Hugo’s quote:

“I cannot look at a tree leaf without being crushed by the universe..”
The statues refer to Atlas’ condemnation by the ancient god Zeus who forced him to wear the vault of heaven for eternity. He was petrified by Perseus, who made him plunge his eyes into those of Medusa (known to turn those who meet her gaze into stone). And he was transformed into a mountain range in North Africa: the Atlas Mountains.