“L’Égypte by Fred Boissonnas – A Photographic Portrait,” an exhibition of photographs by the late Swiss photographer Fred Boissonnas (1858-1946), shows off the work of this Geneva-born photographer who undertook an extensive photographic mission across Egypt as part of a commission by King Fouad I to produce a book of photographs entitled simply L’Égypte and published in 1932.
The book was inaugurated with great ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society in Cairo on its first publication, and though it is no longer available over 4,000 images from Boissonnas’s mission are now preserved at the Bibliothèque de Genève in Switzerland.
Currently on display at the Goethe Institute’s Takhshena Gallery in Downtown Cairo, a new exhibition offers the public a unique opportunity to rediscover Boissonnas’s inclusive and artistically rich portrayal of Egypt’s diverse landscapes and historical periods through photographs marked by visual research, documentary richness, and an inclusive vision of Egypt’s social strata.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Elisabeth Gilgen, chargée d’affaires a.i. at the Swiss Embassy in Cairo, Lilli Kobler, regional director of the Goethe Institute, and Prince Mohamed Ali, heir apparent to Egypt’s former ruling Mohamed Ali Dynasty, in the presence of an array of renowned Egyptian photographers and visual artists.
The exhibition is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt in collaboration with the Library of Geneva (Bibliothèque de Genève) and the Université de Genève, Photopia, the Cairo Photo Week, and the Goethe Institute in Cairo.
At the opening of the exhibition Gilgen said that “by the time Boissonnas came to Egypt in 1929, he had already made a name for himself documenting Greece, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. He was tasked by King Fouad I to capture Egypt in all its dimensions – from the ancient monuments and desert landscapes to the daily lives of its people, its spiritual rhythms, and its natural beauty. But what he produced was far more than a visual catalogue. It was an evocative portrait of Egypt.”
“He used photography as a bridge between civilisations. His work is a reminder to look deeply, to listen carefully, and to tell stories with our heart. In the age of digital speed, Boissonnas reminds us to slow down, to compose thoughtfully and to treat every moment thoughtfully,” Gilgen said.
“This exhibition is part of our celebrations marking 90 years of the Friendship Treaty between Switzerland and Egypt. This past year allowed us to reflect on nine decades of cooperation, friendship, and mutual respect. Boissonnas’s work fits very well into this cycle.
As you explore the exhibition, let us remember Boissonnas not just as a Swiss photographer, but as someone who saw Egypt with wonder, humility, and artistic grace.”
In her opening address at the exhibition, Kobler commented that “I would like to extend my warm welcome to you here in our premises at the Goethe Institute Cairo in Bustan Street for the opening of the exhibition ‘L’Égypte, by Fred Boissonnas - A Photographic Portrait,’ which we are honoured to open today.”
“The exhibition is unique and very special in itself, but it also marks this year’s 90th anniversary of the Friendship Treaty between Switzerland and Egypt. Bonds of friendship remain a cornerstone of our work at the Goethe Institute in our pursuit to find common angles, shared points of view and new perspectives on the spaces we share through culture. This is today more needed than ever.”
“The photographs of Fred Boissonnas not only invite us to engage with their subjects, but also pose the question of perspective, be it personal, political, or cultural. They provide a captivating insight on a historical Egypt, viewed through the eyes of a Swiss artist… From my side, it is my pleasure to invite you to engage in this exciting endeavour – to view these pictures through a contemporary and maybe at times even critical lens, embark on a historical journey and consciously explore Egypt through Swiss eyes in the spirit of many more decades of partnership to come,” Kobler said.
The exhibition remains on view at the Goethe Institute’s Takhshena Gallery until 28 May.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 22 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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