Gezicht op de ingang van de sectie beeldende kunsten op de Wereldtentoonstelling van Parijs in 1878 1878

This photograph, taken by an anonymous photographer, shows the entrance to the fine arts section at the Paris World’s Fair of 1878. The image documents a space constructed from various materials like stone, metal, and textiles. Note how this photograph meticulously captures the entrance, revealing the use of classical motifs, the large-scale of Beaux-Arts architecture, and the inclusion of both painting and sculpture. Photography in the 19th century involved a laborious process, turning the camera into a tool for documentation. In the context of a World's Fair, photography was used to archive the event, but also as a technique to promote cultural and economic achievements. Ultimately, this photograph invites us to consider the fair as a staged event, a construction meant to promote not only art, but also industry, empire, and social progress. This historical image helps us to understand the complex relationship between art, labor, and ideology.