A Forgotten Canvas: The Anonymous Posters of Palais Kheireddine
The Press – Since January 1 2026, the Kheireddine Palace, the municipal museum of Tunis in the Medina, has been hosting an exhibition of posters advertising past painting events that took place in its historic gallery. Originally slated to close at the end of January, the show has been extended throughout February. It offers a fresh look at a often‑overlooked art form, gathering more than a hundred posters that map the gallery’s various eras.
Why the Lack of Credits Matters
It is regrettable that the creators of these posters remain unnamed. The works are anonymous, yet they narrate the story of both the gallery and the painters whose pieces once filled its walls. In this sense, each poster acts as a showcase—sometimes even the quintessence—of the artist who chose to exhibit at the Palais Kheireddine.
The anonymity is not an accident. Most of the posters were never meant to be standalone artworks; they served primarily as communication tools to inform the public about upcoming exhibitions. Over time, the street walls that displayed them have transformed into public canvases, turning what were once disposable flyers into lasting visual records.
Highlights from the Documentary Exhibition
Below are a few selected posters that illustrate the breadth of the exhibition and the hidden chapters of Tunisian art history.
| Poster | Description | Year / Context |
|---|---|---|
| Nacer Khemir – Filmmaker, Storyteller & Painter | A black‑and‑white drawing signed by Khemir himself. It depicts a winged figure soaring over the Medina, its houses and mosque—an early sketch echoing the director’s recurring themes of desert, myth, and imagination. The fantastical half‑angel, half‑demon figure breaks away from traditional colour and perspective, favouring simple, modern forms. | 2002 exhibition |
| “Dix‑Art et guerre” – Otto Dix | Original prints from the 1920s by the German expressionist. The stark black‑and‑white poster shows mutilated figures—leg‑less or arm‑less—set in a chaotic space, symbolising war‑induced trauma. The show ran 8–30 April 2005 in partnership with the Goethe‑Institut. | 2005 |
| Gustav Klimt & Egon Schiele – Austrian Masters | A watercolor derived from Klimt’s oeuvre, portraying a woman in a large hat, head tilted back, eyes closed—seemingly at rest, savoring a moment of serenity. The exhibition celebrated the cultural ties with Austria and honoured the country’s leading Symbolist and Expressionist figures. | 2023 (part of a broader Austria‑Tunisia cultural program) |
| “Fumetti nei musei” – Italian Comic‑Art Exhibition | A colourful poster promoting a comic‑book showcase (9–30 June 2022). It features a multitude of characters rendered in the ninth art style, with original panels by Italian creators that reinterpret real museum collections. | 2022 |
| Other Notable Artists | The exhibition also revived the memory of Tunisian painters Hédi Turki and Zoubeir Turki, as well as Spanish legends Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, among many others who left their imprint on the gallery’s walls. | Various dates |
What the Posters Reveal
- Historical Timeline – By arranging the posters chronologically, visitors can trace the evolution of artistic trends in Tunisia, from early 20th‑century expressionism to contemporary comic‑art collaborations.
- Cultural Dialogue – The presence of Austrian, German, Spanish, and Italian works underscores the international exchange that the Palais Kheireddine has fostered over the decades.
- Artistic Identity – Even without signatures, the visual language of each poster—its colour palette, composition, and iconography—offers clues about the artist’s style and the thematic concerns of the original exhibition.
Visit the Exhibition
The show will remain open throughout February 2026. Whether you are a scholar, a casual visitor, or a lover of graphic design, the collection invites you to reconsider the humble poster as a legitimate artistic medium and a vital historical document.
Further Reading
Read also: 2nd session of “Juste Debout” – Urban dance in all its forms
— La Presse
