Huizen en totempalen van mensen uit Alaska op de World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 1893

This photograph by Charles Dudley Arnold captures the Alaskan Native village at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. The image documents the architecture and monumental sculpture of an indigenous community displayed as an exhibit. The traditional houses, likely made from wood, stand alongside elaborately carved totem poles. These poles weren't simply made, but carefully crafted with techniques passed down through generations. The black and white medium offers a glimpse into the scene, but also flattens the rich textures and colors inherent in the wooden structures. We might reflect on the labor involved in the extraction and preparation of wood as a valuable resource, as well as in the carving of such complex forms. Moreover, it is important to recognize that the image is a record of a community showcased within the context of a world fair, raising questions about cultural representation, labor, and the marketplace of human and material resources.