On November 1, 2026, the BFM in Geneva will host historian and art critic Hector Obalk for his show *The Entire History of Painting in Less Than Two Hours*. Combining elements of a lecture, stand-up comedy, and a multimedia presentation with music, he humorously and passionately traces seven centuries of masterpieces in Western painting.

A French historian and art critic, documentary filmmaker, and former television commentator, Hector Obalk gained widespread recognition through the series *Grand’Art* broadcast on Arte, in which he analyzed masterpieces of Western painting with passion and precision. For over forty years, this renowned expert has traveled to museums and collections around the world to examine works up close and reveal their most fascinating details.

With *The Entire History of Painting in Less Than Two Hours*, he offers a format that is as original as it is accessible: a visual and musical stand-up show dedicated to the history of Western painting. On stage, accompanied by musicians and a giant screen, he guides the audience through more than seven centuries of pictorial creation, from Giotto to Yves Klein, projecting ultra-high-definition images that reveal details often invisible to the naked eye. Built around an impressive wall of over a thousand images, each performance offers a unique journey through the great masters and major turning points in the history of painting. Engaging anecdotes, technical analyses, personal favorites, and touches of humor flow seamlessly in a show that is as entertaining as it is educational.

A unique blend of lecture, concert, and one-man show, this show appeals to art lovers and newcomers alike. Suitable for all audiences, it has already captivated more than 150,000 spectators, confirming the incredible popularity of this lively yet scholarly approach to telling the history of painting.