Gezicht op het centrale plein van de World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 1893

Charles Dudley Arnold captured this photogravure of the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. This image offers us a glimpse into a pivotal moment in American history. The fair was designed to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas. But it was also a display of American industrial might and cultural aspirations, reflecting the country’s sense of itself on the world stage. What’s not pictured here are the racial segregation and exclusion that also marked this era. While the fair celebrated progress, it also reinforced existing social hierarchies, particularly in its representations, or lack thereof, of African Americans and other marginalized groups. The fairgrounds were meant to inspire awe and a sense of national pride, presenting an image of American exceptionalism. But it’s important to remember that this image was carefully constructed, masking deeper social inequalities. This photo invites us to reflect on the complexities of American identity at the turn of the century.