Modern building with strong diagonal lines
Architecture,  Gardens,  Paris,  Travel galleries

Gallery: scenes from the Musée Albert Kahn

October 13, 2023 / 33 Comments

I suspect that, like me, you have never heard of Albert Khan. Yet in his time (1860-1940) he was very influential. A banker and philanthropist, he dedicated his fortune to the service of knowledge, harmony between people and progress. He amassed a huge collection of photos which he called the Archives de la Planète and used them to open up the world to people with the aim of promoting pacifism and understanding.

Today those photos are displayed in an impressive modern museum building on the site of his former home near the Bois de Boulogne. That building itself is worth a visit. It was designed by the architect Kengo Kuma and inspired by Albert Kahn’s connections with Japan. I found it really photogenic, in both colour and black and white; in addition to the photos here I included a monochrome edit in my recent ‘Paris in black and white’ post.

Around the museum, and even more beautiful, are the gardens designed by Khan to complement his collection and his work. In landscaping the garden he created a series of scenes: a traditional Japanese garden and a contemporary one, an English and a French style garden, and various forest environments.

Here’s a selection of some of my favourite shots from our visit. I think you will guess which area I enjoyed most of all!

Modern building with strong diagonal lines

The entrance to the museum

Wall of small illuminated images

Just a small part of the photo collection

One of the photos in the collection

Photo of a young Oriental woman eating
Old photo of a cobbled street with tram lines and horse-drawn carts

Another of the photos in the collection

Bamboo and pine trees

In the Japanese Garden

A stream in the Japanese Garden

Stream flowing between lawns and bushes
Arched red wooden bridge over a pond

In the Japanese Garden

Arched wooden footbridge surrounded by trees

In the Japanese Garden

Tall bamboo and rounded bushes

Bamboo grove, Japanese Garden

Pink waterlily

Lily pond in the Japanese Garden

Golden leaves in front of a screen door

In front of a pavillion in the Japanese Garden

Wooded path with sunlight

A path through one of the forest areas

Purple flower and mossy tree trunk

Flowers and mosses in a forest area of the gardens

Sunlight through bright green leaves

In a forest area

Large glass conservatory

Glass conservatory in the French Garden

Close-up of a pelargonium

In a border in the French Garden

I visited the Musée Albert Kahn in September 2023

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