Bustes van Voltaire en Hugo de Groot before 1873

Here, Joseph Cundall presents us with an albumen print showing busts of Voltaire and Hugo de Groot. In the nineteenth century, the circulation of images of influential figures, like these enlightenment thinkers, was crucial for shaping cultural values and historical narratives. The choice of Voltaire and Hugo de Groot is far from accidental; both figures represent critical challenges to established orthodoxies. Voltaire, a champion of free thought, and Hugo de Groot, a legal scholar who laid the groundwork for international law, both advocated for a world governed by reason and justice. Cundall’s work invites us to consider how these historical figures continue to influence contemporary conversations about human rights, freedom of expression, and the rule of law. How do we, today, choose who and what we memorialize and celebrate through art? As you stand here, perhaps you might reflect on whose busts we should be making now and for the future.