In 1976, Peter Schlesinger visited the Republic of Yemen on a week-long trip with his partner, the photographer Eric Boman, who was on assignment for a French fashion magazine. The country had been closed to foreigners for many years, forgotten to the world. During his visit, Schlesinger took hundreds of photographs, documenting an ancient civilization with its unique architecture and culture.

Today, much of the country has tragically been destroyed by political strife and civil war. Schlesinger’s photographs encapsulate a moment in Yemen’s history, when the influence of its past still found expression in the extraordinary imagination of practising Yemeni craftspeople. 8 Days in Yemen 1976 presents a rare look back in time.