Portret van Voltaire 1783

This is Johann Elias Haid’s engraving of Voltaire, a print showcased in the Rijksmuseum. Voltaire is immortalized within an oval frame, above a depiction of battle. Consider the laurel wreath, unseen here, yet implied by Voltaire’s immortalization. A symbol of triumph since ancient Greece, where victors were crowned with laurel, its presence transcends time. We see echoes of this in Roman emperors and Renaissance heroes, each donning laurel as a mark of glory. The battle scene below furthers this theme, where conflict becomes a stage for triumph. Yet, triumph is never without its shadow. The fallen soldiers remind us that victory is built upon sacrifice. This duality echoes through history, where every celebration holds a memory of loss. These motifs resonate deeply, engaging our subconscious understanding of victory and defeat, forever intertwined in the human experience. Thus, the image becomes a cyclical dance of triumph and tragedy, resonating across time and culture, its emotional power ever potent.