Bezoekers van de Wereldtentoonstelling van 1900 voor een verlicht glazen paviljoen in Parijs 1900

Paul Lucena captured this image of visitors at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, using photographic materials. In this period, photography was advancing from a niche practice to a widely accessible medium, yet it still required significant technical knowledge and careful execution, as evident in the photograph's soft focus and sepia tone. The image's focus on a "Pavillon lumineux en verre," or illuminated glass pavilion, speaks to the era's fascination with technological progress. Glass, as a material, represented both transparency and fragility. To create a large glass pavilion, highly skilled labor would be needed, from glassblowing to construction, reflecting the complex social structure of the time, where craftsmanship and industrial production coexisted. The photograph acts as a document of a society on the cusp of modernity, eager to showcase its achievements while still deeply rooted in traditional skills and social hierarchies. Ultimately, the image reminds us of the integral role of materials, making, and context in understanding the meaning of art.