Seeing Is Believing

The catalogue is dedicated to one of the most celebrated Orientalist artists, the renowned French painter and sculptor, Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824–1904), on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth.

Born in 1824 in the small city of Vesoul in eastern France to a family of goldsmiths, Gérôme lived and worked through most of the long 19th century before his passing in 1904, becoming one of the best recognised and distinguished academic painters of the Second Empire (1852–1870).

The first section, curated by Emily Weeks, delves into the biography of the artist, as well as his painting techniques, and raises critical questions about the reception of Gérôme’s art in different periods and circles. The second section, curated by Giles Hudson, explores the pivotal role of photography in Gérôme’s work, examining how it both facilitated his artistic process and contributed to his widespread acclaim. The third section, curated by Sara Raza, brings into the contemporary realm, showcasing artworks that respond to Gérôme’s oeuvre in diverse and thought-provoking ways.

The book, published on the occasion of a major exhibition hosted at the Qatar Museums in Doha, saw the collaboration of two institutions, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and Lusail Museum. Through this curatorial collaboration, the two museums were able to unite artworks from their collections and international institutions such as the Islamic Arts Museum in Malaysia, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States, and the Musée d’Orsay in France, as well as numerous private collectors.