Slave Exhibitions in the Mediterranean. 17th-18th Centuries

For over three centuries, the waters of the Mediterranean were the stage of a shared human tragedy. The Institute of the Arab World sheds light on a hidden aspect of history where, between the 17th and 18th centuries, thousands of Christians and Muslims were reduced to servitude on both sides of the two coasts. This unprecedented presentation relies on a vast collection of artworks and astonishing objects, many of which have never been shown to the public. These pieces reveal the deep and lasting impact of these broken existences on material cultures in Europe. This encounter with the past offers a fresh perspective on forced circulations between the Orient and the West, going beyond simple power dynamics. A major historical event to be seen from March 31st to July 20th, 2026.