Slaves in the Modern Mediterranean. 17th-18th Centuries

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Mediterranean was the stage of a brutal trade: the enslavement of Muslims and Christians, often ignored by history. The Institut du Monde Arabe presents an unprecedented exhibition that sheds light on this complex reality, bringing together artworks rarely exhibited. The exhibition explores the close links between Europe, Africa and the Orient, revealing the individual fates of captured sailors, local populations, and freed persons. An immersive journey, the exhibition analyzes the impact of this practice on European material cultures, unveiling objects testifying to these commercial exchanges and networks of influence. A fascinating exploration of the consequences of a dehumanizing trade, accessible to all. The exhibition runs from March 31 to July 19, 2026.