Silk Road

The Silk Road refers, in a broad sense, to the vast trade and cultural routes that, for more than two millennia, linked China to the rest of the world—through Central Asia, the Middle East, East Africa, and as far as Europe.

Its opening dates back to the time of Emperor Han Wudi (2nd century BC), when he sent the emissary Zhang Qian to establish alliances with the western kingdoms to counter the Xiongnu. This marked the beginning of the first major trade route between China, Central Asia, and Europe.
The term "Silk Road" did not appear until 1877, however, under the pen of the German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen, in reference to the central place occupied by Chinese silk in these exchanges.

This route, first by land and then by sea, connected the plains of central China to the far reaches of the desert, to the ports of Arabia, Persia, and the Mediterranean. It went to the east as far as Korea and Japan, and to the west as far as France and the Netherlands. By sea, it reached Italy, Greece, and Egypt.

More than just a trading network, the Silk Road was a bridge between civilizations : a place of migration, dialogue, and interbreeding. Each stopover bears the marks of an exchange—of goods, languages, beliefs, and know-how.

It is this historical, cultural and poetic richness that the "Silk Road" collection celebrates, transforming it into a visual language.