Photographier le patrimoine du Liban, 1864-1970

The exhibition “Photographing Lebanon's Heritage, 1864-1970” invites visitors to dive into an unprecedented visual treasure at the Institut du Monde Arabe. From April 3, 2025 to January 4, 2026, this presentation highlights old photographs from the archives of the Oriental Library in Beirut, revealing archaeological sites and Lebanese landscapes of a bygone era. These images, shown for the first time in France, capture the essence of a threatened heritage, complemented by a contemporary sculptural work honoring the country's resilience.

At the heart of the exhibition “Photographing Lebanon's Heritage” at the Institut du Monde Arabe is an exceptional collection born from the passion of Jesuit scholars for archaeology and history. Founded in 1875, Saint Joseph University in Beirut established its Oriental Faculty in 1902, an institutional framework that allowed these scholars to meticulously document Lebanon and its surroundings. Trained in theology and the classics, they were interested not only in Greco-Roman antiquity, ancient languages and religions, but also Lebanese prehistory, becoming pioneers in this field. Anonymous Jesuit photographer, Monastic site of Deir al-Qala'a, 1902, Glass plate negative, 18 x 24 cm These photographs, gathered to illustrate university courses and scholarly publications like the Mélanges de la Faculté Orientale starting in 1906, renamed Mélanges de l'USJ in 1929, represent a vast collection of several tens of thousands of images. Supplemented by period acquisitions and more recent additions, these images cross the country capturing precious moments. Today, this visual heritage benefits from a digitization and indexing project supported by institutions like the Boghossian Foundation, the National Heritage Institute and the French National Archives, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

The exhibition “Photographing Lebanon's Heritage” at the Institut du Monde Arabe offers an immersive journey through about a dozen emblematic sites and Lebanese regions, revealed through photographs of various formats. Millenary cities like Byblos, Baalbek, Tyre and Sidon emerge in black and white, their ancient ruins standing with timeless majesty against mountainous or coastal landscapes. These images go beyond architecture: they capture natural panoramas, historical monuments and moments of social and economic life, offering a nuanced portrait of a Lebanon of the past. Among the explored regions are Hermel with its forgotten pyramids, fertile Beqaa and its Roman remains, Chouf with its picturesque villages, Metn with its verdant hills and Kesrouan with perched monasteries, unfolding like a living album. These shots, often taken between 1864 and 1970, show a country in transition where the old meets the budding modern. One sees lively markets, shepherds at work, or local ceremonies, reflecting the cultural diversity and community exchanges that shaped Lebanese identity. Gérard de Martimprey S.J., Temple of Jupiter, Great Court of Baalbek, 1930, 1940, Glass plate negative, 13.4 x 11.2 cm A scientific eye on the ancient Specific works illustrate this richness: the facade of the Baal Marqad temple at Deir el-Qalaa, captured in 1902 by Antoun Abdullah on glass plate 18x24 cm; the Arab bridge over the Nahr el-Kalb, photographed between 1950 and 1960 by Manouk Alemayan on paper print 18x24 cm; the Sun temple at Baalbek, immortalized between 1930 and 1940 by Henri Lammens and Gérard de Martimprey on glass plate 9x12 cm.

In addition to photographic archives, the exhibition “Photographing Lebanon's Heritage, 1864-1970” at the Institut du Monde Arabe displays for the first time Li Bayrut, an imposing bronze sculpture by artist Chaouki Choukini. Created in the aftermath of the devastating explosions at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, this work measures 153 x 65 x 30 cm and pays tribute to the martyred city, borrowing the title of an emblematic song by singer Fairuz. Chaouki Choukini, Li Bayrut, 2020, Bronze, 153 x 65 x 30 cm Chaouki Choukini, responding to the call of donor and collector Claude Lemand, with a 2024 donation by Claude and France Lemand, infused this piece with profound emotional charge, symbolizing the creativity of Lebanese artists and their diaspora in the face of adversity. Bronze, a noble and durable material, evokes the strength of art's resistance, capable of transcending tragedies to become a beacon of hope. Placed in dialogue with the old photographs, Li Bayrut creates a bridge between past and present, highlighting how Lebanese cultural heritage endures despite trials.