Filipijnse prauwen op de wereldtentoonstelling in St. Louis (Louisiana Purchase Exposition), 1904 1904

Editor: This photograph, taken in 1904 by Jan Schüller, depicts Filipino boats at the World's Fair in St. Louis. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The image is almost dreamlike… ethereal. The building in the background is grand, but these small boats in the foreground evoke something more personal, and distant. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a story etched in time, my dear. A snapshot of ambition, colonialism, and exoticism all mingling in the muddy waters of progress. These Filipino boats… they are almost like forgotten echoes amidst the towering architecture meant to symbolize triumph. The contrast stings, doesn't it? Makes you wonder who really benefited from these "world's fairs," and at what cost. Editor: It really does. The people on the boats almost look…staged, like part of the exhibit themselves. Curator: Precisely! It’s like they are a living diorama, presenting a culture deemed ‘other’ for the consumption of Western eyes. Schüller’s photograph, while seemingly objective, inadvertently exposes the problematic gaze inherent in such displays. He captured not just the image but the inherent tension between admiration and exploitation. Does that resonate with you? Editor: It does. It makes me think about how we look at history itself, and who gets to tell the story. I came in seeing an elegant scene and now... Curator: Now you see the ripples, darling! Art at its best, leaves a lasting impression that makes one question. Schüller inadvertently stirred waters far deeper than he possibly imagined. A perfect example of impressionism in photography and also cultural awareness, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Absolutely. I'll never look at world's fair photos the same way again. Curator: Then we’ve both learned something wondrous today, haven't we?