Bosporus Beats: Views of Istanbul From 1500 to 1800

Bosporus Beats: Views of Istanbul From 1500 to 1800 explores how artists from across Europe depicted Istanbul over three centuries. Through drawings, prints and illustrated books by artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt and Antoine Ignace Melling, the exhibition highlights the city’s vibrant role as a cultural crossroads linking Europe and the Ottoman world. Focusing on artistic exchange, shifting perspectives and fascination with the Bosporus Strait in modern-day Türkiye, the exhibition reveals how Istanbul (officially still Constantinople during this period) inspired imagination, dialogue and creativity across time. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, till May 31.

Albrecht Dürer, Knoten mit herzförmigem Schild, Detail, nach 1507 Credit: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett / Dietmar Katz.