Current Exhibition

GEORGES SIMENON.
A Novelist in Eight Journeys

April 10th, 2025 – February 8th, 2026
Galleria Modernissimo, Bologna

In the footsteps of Georges Simenon: an exhibition designed as a long journey tracing the roots of a literary genius. Through his own travels, his papers, the films adapted from his novels, the photographs he took during his reportages in France, Europe, Africa, in the world that unconsciously headed towards the Second World War. The journey begins with the birth of George Sim – one of his earliest pen names – before getting to know Georges Simenon, creator of Inspector Maigret. Also the author of the ‘romans durs’, the novelist who acted as an editor, the liégeois who became a citizen of the world, the writer who – by searching for his own self – was able to relate the fears, the obsessions, the atmospheres of the Short Century.

From April 10, 2025, to February 8, 2026, Galleria Modernissimo will host Georges Simenon. A Novelist in Eight Journeys, an exhibition presented by Cineteca di Bologna and curated by Gian Luca Farinelli and John Simenon. Held in Piazza Maggiore, at the very heart of Bologna, this landmark exhibition follows almost a decade of research on the novelist’s archives, preserved by his son, John Simenon.

Tickets & opening times

Versione italiana

“Notre voyage à nous aussi fut long…”
Two words from the curators

“Few writers have given rise to a world of stories and, above all, characters and atmospheres which are so fascinating and so inspire the imagination of directors, screenwriters and producers. In this catalogue, Serge Toubiana notes that, in order to write, Simenon used a method more typical of filmmakers. Just as a director has to inhabit his characters, so Simenon had to know them, live with them, map out in his mind the sequences which would become pages in a novel, imagining the locations, acting out every role, reciting every line”.
John Simenon and Gian Luca Farinelli

Read the preface to the exhibition catalogue La préface du catalogue de l’Exposition

Business card of ‘Georges Sim / Journalist’ (Fonds Georges Simenon Collection – Université de Liège); Georges Simenon dressed as a drummer for a performance at the Saint-André primary school. Liège, c. 1914 / John Simenon Collection (© Simenon.™); Class photo, 1909-1910. Second year of primary school at the Institut Saint-André. Simenon is second from the right, front row (John Simenon Collection); From Régine Renchon’s album (Tigy). The Parisian years: Simenon with Tigy and Joséphine Baker in the restaurant ‘Chez Josephine’. Paris, c. 1926 / Diane Simenon Collection (© Simenon.™); Simenon portrayed by Tigy, oil painting on canvas. Paris, c. 1925 (© Diane Simenon); Simenon and pioneer of avant-garde photography Germaine Krull aboard the Ostrogoth. Together they produced the first illustrated detective novel La Folle d’Itteville, with 104 photographs accompanying the text. 1931 / John Simenon Collection (© Simenon™); Simenon with his camera during the cruise through the Mediterranean, 1934 (Fonds Georges Simenon Collection – Université de Liège); Georges Simenon observes the Darsena. Milan, 1957 (© Mondadori Portfolio/Mario Carrieri).

download the images photos of the exhibition spaces

Collaborators

The exhibition is promoted by: Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna and John Simenon. With the institutional support of: Municipality of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna Region and Ministry of Culture. In collaboration with Adelphi Edizioni.
The exhibition is supported by Strategia Fotografia 2024, promoted by the General Directorate for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture.
Main sponsor: Gruppo Hera. Sponsors: Coop Alleanza 3.0, Unicredit. In collaboration with Trenitalia, Tper, Bologna Welcome, Biblioteche di Bologna and Patto per la lettura, Rai Teche. Media Partnership: Radio 3 Rai.
Special collaborations with: Emons Audiolibri and Leica Store Bologna.

Tickets & Opening Times

Duration of the exhibition: 1½ hours
Last admission: 7 pm
Tickets can be purchased both online and at the Bookshop of the Cineteca di Bologna (under the Voltone of Palazzo Re Enzo). The ticket office closes one hour before the exhibition closes.

Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 2 pm – 8 pm
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10 am – 8 pm
Last admission: 7 pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Summer closure: 4 to 19 August

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Full price: 14€
Reduced price Amici Cineteca: €11 *
Reduced UniBo Students: €7
Youths 7-17 years: €7
Children 0-6: Free

The ticket allows entry to the Galleria Modernissimo e includes the visit to the exhibitions “Georges Simenon. A Novelist in Eight Journeys” and “Prima del cinema la pittura: le opere di Matteo Garrone”.

* Card Cultura, Carta Effe Feltrinelli, Coop Alleanza 3.0 members, Unicredit customers, Touring Club, Tper season ticket holders, Trenitalia Tper Bologna ticket holders, Biblioteche card holders, Alliance Française

buy your ticket online GUided tours

Guided Tours

Groups Guided tours on demand

Guided tours in Italian, English and French organised by Bologna Welcome.

Reservation required:
booking@bolognawelcome.it
tel. +39 051 658311

Accessibility

At the end of June 2024, with the beginning of the 38th edition of the festival Il Cinema Ritrovato, the new access to the spaces of the Cinema Modernissimo and the Modernissimo Exhibition Gallery was inaugurated: through the ‘Pensilina’, located in the centre of Piazza Re Enzo, it is possible to access by descending the stairs or by using the lift.

People with motor and sensory disabilities can get in contact with us to organise assistance to access the premises by writing to biglietteriamodernissimo@cineteca.bologna.it or calling (+39) 051 2194150.