Tristan and Isolde, the Chamber of Images
In 2025, David Balade revisits a series of illustrations, begun in 2013, recounting the love story of one of the most famous couples in medieval literature: Tristan and Isolde. At the heart of this legend lies a love potion, shared between them by mistake, which seals their fate: Tristan, tasked with escorting the Irish princess Isolde to Cornwall to marry King Mark, becomes her unwilling lover. From then on, their irresistible passion leads them through a series of trials, culminating in the ultimate fulfillment of their love, beyond earthly constraints.
For these works, created using mixed media on paper, David Balade drew inspiration from the Celtic roots of this poetic tale. Guided by a symbolic approach, the artist questions the true essence of the famous lovers of Cornwall and explores the deep links that unite Tristan and Isolde with the forces of nature.