Ella Maillart. Photographic Encounters

This exhibition pays tribute to Ella Maillart, photographer, traveler, and writer, following the inclusion of her archives in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. Photo Elysée presents a selection of photographs taken during Maillart’s journeys across Central and East Asia in the 1930s, including travels through the USSR, China, Afghanistan, Iran, and Manchuria. Combining photographs and writings, the exhibition explores the political, social, and cultural realities she encountered, documenting a period of profound transformation in Asian and global history. The exhibition highlights Maillart’s role as both witness and storyteller, offering a rich visual and historical record of her encounters. Free entry.

Ella Maillart, "Bergères tangoutes au 108 tresses", 1935, Qinghai, République de Chine © Succession Ella Maillart et Photo Elysée, Lausanne