Voir, c'est croire : L'art et l'influence de Jean-Léon Gérôme
Auteur(s) : Collectif
Exhibition at Mathaf, Doha, 3 November 2024 - 22 February 2025
Born in 1824 in Vesoul, in eastern France, into a family of goldsmiths, Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824–1904) became one of the most recognised and distinguished academic painters of the Second Empire and, above all, one of the most famous Orientalist artists.
This catalogue of the exhibition organised to mark the 200th anniversary of Gérôme's birth brings together works from Mathaf and the Lusail Museum in Doha, as well as works from international institutions - the Malaysian Islamic Arts Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d'Orsay, etc. - and numerous private collections.
The first section of the book examines the artist's biography and painting techniques, while raising critical questions about the reception of his art in different periods and circles. The second section examines the central role of photography in Gérôme's work, analysing how it facilitated his artistic process and contributed to his worldwide renown. The third section offers a contemporary perspective, presenting works that respond to Gérôme's oeuvre in diverse and stimulating ways.
