Reproductie van een prent van het Italiaanse paviljoen op de Wereldtentoonstelling van Parijs in 1900 before 1901

Étienne Neurdein captured this print of the Italian Pavilion at the 1900 Paris Exposition. These world's fairs were grand stages for nations to display their cultural, industrial, and colonial prowess. Italy, newly unified, sought to assert its place among European powers. The pavilion, dripping with ornamentation, evoked the grandeur of Venice, recalling a powerful historical legacy. Yet, this image is more than just architecture; it is a statement of national identity. Consider the era's colonial ambitions and the subtle yet powerful ways in which nations promoted themselves through selective historical narratives. Neurdein's photograph invites us to reflect on how identity is carefully constructed, performed, and projected on the world stage. What emotions does this vision of Italy evoke? Does it inspire awe, or does it invite deeper questions about power and representation?