Paviljoen van Turkije op de World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 1893

Charles Dudley Arnold captured the Turkish Pavilion at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 through the relatively new medium of photography. The photographic process itself—the careful composition, the precise timing, and the chemical reactions on the glass plate negative—impart a sense of studied objectivity. Yet, the image also carries the weight of its historical context. As a document of a world's fair, it reflects the era’s fascination with progress, trade, and cultural exchange, but also the often-unequal power dynamics between nations. The image shows us the pavilion as a backdrop to social activity, with individuals strolling about in the foreground. The pavilion and its setting become a stage for cultural performance. Arnold’s photograph is not just a record of a building, but a lens through which we can examine the complex interplay of national identity, representation, and global commerce at the close of the 19th century.