‘Old Sarajevo’, from the Photo Collection of the Gazi Husrev Bey Library

At the Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo we recently had the opportunity to see the photo exhibition entitled 'Old Sarajevo'. For those who missed it we bring this review.

The exhibition presented a selection of old Sarajevo photographs taken in the second half of the 19th century. The rare photo collection belongs to the Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo. Most of the photographs document the early period of Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The collection includes photographs presenting a daily life, a variety of cultural and political processions, as well as the family portraits. Especially interesting were the portraits of famous Bosniak personalities, associations and sports clubs.

Photographs give a very good insight into the customs and lifestyle of Bosnian Muslims under the Austro-Hungarian rule. The author of the exhibition is Ahmed MehmedoviÄ‡, the curator of the photographic library fund of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo.

Highlights from the Exhibition

Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / The photo has been taken in 1879, the time of a big fire that destroyed many public and private buildings. On the photo we see the minaret of the Ayas-bey Mosque (built before 1477). On the left there was a complex of Bosnian houses. Nothing of that remained until today / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo, 1878 / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Panorama of Sarajevo / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Street life, the market under Kovaci / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Street life, selling bread at Bascarsija / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Street life, trading at Bascarsija / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Street life / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

The courtyard of Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Street life / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Mehmed efendija Alifandic DÅ¾umrukÄiÄ‡, Hulusi-paÅ¡a (1851-1907) / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Bosniaks drinking coffee / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Portrait of Razija UÅ¾iÄanin, the wife of Mehmed BrekaloviÄ‡ / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Muhammed Enveri-efendi KadiÄ‡ (1855-1931) with his son and his grand-son and grand-daughter / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Å ejh Sejfudin Fehmi efendi Kemura (d. 1917) with his wife and seven children / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine

Muslim sport club M. DÅ¾. S. K. Osman, 1912 with students from Daru-l-muallimina (Shariah Gymnasium) / Old photo of Sarajevo from the Collection of Gazi Husrev Bey Library in Sarajevo / Photo: Islamic Arts Magazine