Le Déjeuner de Voltaire à Ferney or Le Souper des Philosophes c. 1773 - 1775

Jean Huber created this etching, "Le Déjeuner de Voltaire à Ferney," depicting Voltaire and other Enlightenment figures dining, during a period of significant social and intellectual upheaval. The image captures a moment of camaraderie among intellectuals who challenged prevailing norms. Huber’s work provides insight into the social dynamics of the Enlightenment. Note the diverse expressions and interactions among the figures, seated at the table and standing: the raised hand as a sign of intellectual debate, the presence of a servant, a figure of labor and a person of color. The composition subtly acknowledges the complex interplay of ideas, class, and race within the Enlightenment project. While these philosophers advocated for liberty and reason, their ideas were often shaped by their own privileged backgrounds and the colonial contexts of the time. It invites us to reflect on the contradictions inherent in the pursuit of enlightenment and the legacies of those contradictions in our contemporary world.