The MAH is paying homage to the Genevan scholar Max van Berchem (1863-1921). This Orientalist is known for having founded Arabic epigraphy, that is, the study of inscriptions in the Arabic language. This exhibition focuses on the scholar’s character and on his engagement with local heritage. It reveals the material conditions under which he conducted his work and emphasizes his contributions to the understanding of Muslim art and civilization.
The exhibition benefits from exceptional loans from the Fondation Max van Berchem and the Bibliothèque de Genève.