What is an Illusion? Voltaire knows.

Voltaire once said:

“Illusion is the first of all Pleasures.”

What is she thinking about, it makes you wonder if her disillusion – as depicted in this painting – could actually be an illusion in itself. A trick of the mind that causes this emotion inside, a feeling of sadness and disappointment. I so wish it could be true…

The large painting above dates back to around 1640 and is titled “The Disillusioned Medea”  (also known as The Enchantress)

and was painted by Paulus Bor. Bor is a Dutch painting that born and died in Amersfoort, a descendent from a notable Catholic family. His works were marked by a classicism and were considered strange because of the mysterious subjects. He used a rather primitive technique and made use of unusual compositions.

This is a portrait for Voltaire. His real name was Francois-Marie Arouet. He was born on the 21st of November 1694 and died on the 30th of May 1778, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian as well as a philosopher…

Voltaire was well known for his attacks on the Catholic Church and his continuous support for freedom of religion, freedom of speech and a separation of church and state.