#Exhibit of the Month

This year we commemorate 350 years since the birth and 300 years since the death of Dimitrie Cantemir (October 26, 1673 - August 21, 1723), the most famous Romanian humanist thinker and also the author of the first original Romanian philosophical works.

Dimitrie Cantemir represents one of the highest peaks of thought of his time, in all areas that his genius touched - in historiography, geography, philosophy, he opened up new perspectives for development. The great scholar was well acquainted with the Muslim environment, speaking, in addition to Western, also Eastern languages (Turkish, Persian and Arabic), and also had extensive knowledge in the fields of logic, medicine, natural sciences, astronomy and music. This well-educated Christian beyzade, being a born diplomat, won the trust of Sultan Ahmed III, who favorably allowed him to familiarize himself with the documents of imperial history that Cantemir used in working on his famous work "The Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire", which still remains a reference publication in a specialized bibliography.

The National Museum of History of Moldova possesses a German edition of this work, published in Hamburg in 1745. This edition is an impressive volume of 863 pages, accompanied by a preface in German by the editor, containing words of praise and appreciation: "... we consider that such a work of great significance must be known to the Germans in their mother tongue..."

Dimitrie Cantemir was the first scholar to show that the history of the Ottoman Empire divides into two parts. The first part that of growth, includes biographies of 19 sultans and ends around 1672, when the empire entered a new phase, that of political and military decline. Through this work, Cantemir tried to draw attention to the need for an alliance of European countries against Turkish expansion. At the same time, he praised certain aspects of the culture of the Turkish people.

Like "Description of Moldavia", "The Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire" enjoyed wide popularity in European countries. The work was first translated into Russian by Dmitry Grozin, but was not printed. After the death of Dimitrie Cantemir, thanks to his son Antiochus, who became the Russian ambassador in London and then in Paris, this fundamental writing of our scholar was translated and published in English (two volumes, 1734-1735, followed by a new edition in 1756) and in French (1743, in four small volumes). In 1745, the work was also published in German. It was read, highly valued and used in their writings by Voltaire, Byron, Victor Hugo and others. This is the first treatise that addresses the issue of Ottoman power and the multicultural nature of the empire. Work on it began during the author's stay in the Ottoman Empire, resumed after 1711, and finished in 1717. This writing brought him European fame and placed him among the great scholars of the time.

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Events Archive

Launch of the international photography exhibition World Press Photo 2022

November 9, 2022

On November 9, 2022, the launch of the World Press Photo international photographic exhibition took place at the National Museum of History of Moldova.

The General Director of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Eugen Sava, an institution that has been the host of this event for five years, expressed confidence that the public will appreciate the exhibition at its true value. "These photographic works reach the public because they are made by the best photographers in the world. By the value they represent, with certainty, they can be attributed to the category of genuine works of art. The doors of the National Museum of History of Moldova are open for all photography lovers to admire these works of art," said Eugen Sava.

The Head of the Office of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Chisinau, Floris van Eijk, highlighted the fact that the organization of this event in Chisinau has become a beautiful tradition. "The exhibition is valuable not only because we have the most beautiful photographs on display, but also because they try to tell us something important (...) I am sure that you will find here photographs that say something, that make us think and have a better idea of things. We support the independent press, we support quality journalism from Moldova, and this is an additional reason why we also support this exhibition", said Floris van Eijk.

The Coordinator of the World Press Photo Exhibition, Netherlands, Marika Cukrowski, sent a video message, welcoming the launch of the collection in Chisinau and highlighting the importance of World Press Photo's mission to connect the world to the stories that matter.

Nadine Gogu, executive director of the Center for Independent Journalism, highlighted the increased interest of the public around the world in photojournalism. "A proof of this is the large number of photographers participating in this international competition. The jury certainly had a difficult task because, out of 4,066 photographers from 130 countries, only 24 winners were selected. Their works are part of the heavy category, works that make us think, ask questions and act", said Nadine Gogu.

Photojournalist Nicolae Pojoga noted that although this year's exhibition does not say anything about the war in Ukraine, because the photos were taken during 2021, however, "several explosions before this inhumane conflict" can be felt. "I want to draw the attention of my fellow photographers that we work for justice. Through relevant and responsible photographic documents, we hope to contribute to the justice we all expect", said Nicolae Pojoga.

The winners of the World Press Photo 2022 contest present stories that span a wide spectrum of issues - from the undeniable effects of the climate crisis or the civil rights movements and the right to access education, to the preservation of indigenous practices and identity.

Photography lovers can visit the World Press Photo exhibition at the National Museum of History of Moldova for the next three weeks until November 30.

The event is organized by the World Press Photo Foundation from the Netherlands, in partnership with the Center for Independent Journalism, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Chisinau.