Egypt at the time of Flaubert

Documents of early travel photography 1839-1860

This exhibition shows selected works of early travel photography. During the first half of the 19th century, when Daguerreotype just has been invented, Egypt was a very popular travel destination for numerous painters, authors and archaeologists. They were inspired by this new media, not only because of artistic reasons but also for the purpose of documentation. The exhibition focuses on photographs taken between 1839 and 1860, the time of Gustave Flaubert‘s journeys to Egypt. On display are 42 works by e.g. Du Camp, Félix Teynard, Louis de Clercq, and Francis Frith.

Exhibition objects: 42 photographs
Exhibition space: 250 sqm
Catalog: German

Exhibition venues:
Forum für Fotografie und Zeitkunst, Bremen, Germany, April/May 1990
Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte, Dortmund, Germany, November 02, 1990 – December 30, 1990
Staatliche Sammlung Ägyptische Kunst, Munich, Germany, October 30, 1991 – December 08, 1991
Museum Langes Tannen, Uetersen, Germany, December 11, 1991 – February 15, 1992
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Bodemuseum, Germany, April 25, 1992 – June 28, 1992
Kulturverein Zehntscheuer, Rottenburg/Neckar, Germany, July 05, 1992 – August 02, 1992
Historisches Museum der Pfalz, Speyer, Germany, May 16, 1993 – August 01, 1993
Ägyptologisches Institut der Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, April 09, 1995 – May 21, 1995
Hungarian House of Photography – Mai Manó House, Budapest, Hungary, August 25, 2020 – October 04, 2020

 

Francis Frith, The pyramids of Sakkara, view from Northeast, 1858
Installation view EGYPT AT THE TIME OF FLAUBERT. Documents of Early Travel Photography 1839-1860, Hungarian House of Photography – Mai Manó House, 25 August – 04 October 2020
© Hungarian House of Photography – Mai Manó House
Maxime du Camp, Abu Simbel, Egypt, colossal statue at the entrance of the tomb of Ramses II, 1850
Installation view EGYPT AT THE TIME OF FLAUBERT. Documents of Early Travel Photography 1839-1860, Hungarian House of Photography – Mai Manó House, 25 August – 04 October 2020
© Hungarian House of Photography – Mai Manó House
V.G. Maunier, Luxor, Egypt. The mountains of Thebes at the western bank, 1854-1855
Installation view EGYPT AT THE TIME OF FLAUBERT. Documents of Early Travel Photography 1839-1860, Hungarian House of Photography – Mai Manó House, 25 August – 04 October 2020
© Hungarian House of Photography – Mai Manó House
Félix Teynard, Karnak. Karnak, relief-details of the palacec wall, northern outer wall of the columned hall, the capture of Yenoam by Sethos I., 1851-1852

 

News

Vision and Work

On July 18, 2025, the Buchheim Museum opened the largest retrospective to date dedicated to Max Pechstein. The exhibition Max Pechstein – Vision and Work, on view until October 26, 2025, offers more than just the iconic images of Expressionism: it provides a comprehensive insight into a multifaceted oeuvre that, in its search for harmony between humanity and nature, continues to resonate today. Paintings, watercolors, drawings, and prints form the core of the show, complemented by letters, photographs, and preparatory sketches. The works span Pechstein’s early years, his time with the Brücke group, the masterpieces of the 1910s to early 1930s, and his late work of the 1950s.

Max Pechstein – Vision and Work is a collaboration between the Buchheim Museum, the Institute for Cultural Exchange, the Max Pechstein Foundation, and the Art Collections of Zwickau.

Read more

Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelt

The exhibition Cosmic Dimensions – Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelt has celebrated its world premiere and is on view from 10 April 2025 to 31 August 2025 at the Kunstsilo in Kristiansand, Norway. This captivating presentation highlights the visionary work of the Danish artist couple, known for their radiant colors, poetic imagery, and spiritual themes. As key figures of the Danish CoBrA movement, their art creates a universal dialogue between humanity, the cosmos, and creativity.
Part of an international touring exhibition, this is the most comprehensive showcase of their work to date.

Read more

50 Years of Hyperrealistic Sculpture

The Institute for Cultural Exchange proudly presents the exhibition Reshaped Reality – 50 Years of Hyperrealistic Sculptures at Osaka Culturarium Tempozan as part of EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan. A comprehensive selection of sculptures by international representatives of the Hyperrealistic movement gives a profound insight into the development of this movement since the 1970s. The exhibition will be on display from April 10, 2025 to October 13, 2025. Previous presentations of the exhibition, for example in Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, broke all visitor records.

Read more

Worlds in Dialogue

The exhibition Surrealism – Worlds in Dialogue celebrated its premiere on August 31, 2024, at the Kunsthalle Vogelmann in Heilbronn. Visitors can experience this fascinating journey through 100 years of surrealist art until January 5, 2025. The exhibition highlights how the surrealist vision has influenced subsequent generations up to the present day. This cross-generational encounter demonstrates how surrealist themes and methods still resonate with our zeitgeist, while addressing fundamental socio-political issues. Avantgardists such as Max Ernst, Salvador Dalí, Yves Tanguy, René Magritte, Claude Cahun, and others engage in dialogue with contemporary artists like Cindy Sherman, Sarah Lucas, or David Lynch, shedding light on themes such as identity, gender and technology from various perspectives.

Read more