Smeedijzeren hek bij de tentoonstelling van Duitsland in het transportgebouw op de World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 1893

Charles Dudley Arnold captured this photograph of a wrought iron gate at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Exposition showcased industrial advancements but also reflected the social stratification of the time. The gate, an emblem of German craftsmanship within the Transportation Building, becomes a powerful symbol when viewed through the lens of global power dynamics. It speaks of Germany's burgeoning industrial strength, set against the backdrop of a world's fair that was also a stage for colonial display and racial hierarchies. How did fairgoers of different backgrounds experience this gate? For some, it might have represented progress and artistry. Yet, for others, especially those from colonized nations, it could have symbolized the economic and technological disparities perpetuated by imperial powers. Consider how such structures subtly reinforced notions of national identity and superiority, and what it meant to move through such spaces as a visitor from a marginalized community.