The Paris Colonial Exhibition (or "Exposition coloniale internationale", International Colonial Exhibition) was a six-month colonial exhibition held in Paris, France, in 1931 that attempted to display the diverse cultures and immense resources of France's colonial possessions.
Inauguration of the Musée des colonies during the ExpositionBird's eye view of the exhibition groundsThe replica of the Cambodian temple at Angkor Wat
Booklet presenting the Portuguese contribution to the exposition
The exposition opened on 6 May 1931 in the Bois de Vincennes on the eastern outskirts of Paris.[1] The scale was enormous.[2] It is estimated that from 7 to 9 million visitors came from over the world.[3] The French government brought people from the colonies to Paris and had them create native arts and crafts and perform in grandly scaled reproductions of their native architectural styles such as huts or temples.[4] Other nations participated in the event, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy (with a pavilion designed by Armando Brasini), Japan, Portugal, and the United States.[2]
Politically, France hoped the exposition would paint its colonial empire in a beneficial light, showing the mutual exchange of cultures and the benefit of France's efforts overseas. This would thus negate German criticisms that France was "the exploiter of colonial societies [and] the agent of miscegenation and decadence". The exposition highlighted the endemic cultures of the colonies and downplayed French efforts to spread its own language and culture abroad, thus advancing the notion that France was associating with colonised societies, not assimilating them.[4]
The Colonial Exposition provided a forum for the discussion of colonialism in general and of French colonies specifically. French authorities published over 3,000 reports during the six-month period and held over 100 congresses. The exposition served as a vehicle for colonial writers to publicise their works, and it created a market in Paris for various ethnic cuisines, particularly North African and Vietnamese. Filmmakers chose French colonies as the subjects of their works. The Permanent Colonial Museum (today the Cité nationale de l'histoire de l'immigration) opened at the end of the exposition. The colonial service experienced a boost in applications.[4]
The Dutch colonial pavilion in the Exposition. This pavilion burned down in a fire on June 28, 1931, destroying some important collections.
As one of the important colonial powers at that time, the Dutch Empire participated in the Exhibition. The Netherlands presented a cultural synthesis from their colony, the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). However, on 28 June 1931, a fire burnt down the Dutch pavilion, along with all cultural objects displayed inside.[5];[6]: 43
Only a few artefacts could be salvaged, including an ancient Javanese bronze Shiva statue, which is now kept in the National Museum of Indonesia. The cause of this massive fire was never identified, and there was speculation at the time that it may have been caused by a short circuit, by flammable building materials that were a fire hazard, or by arsonist sabotage. The material and cultural losses were estimated to be around almost 80 million francs. It was said that the French government paid the Netherlands Indies colonial government for its losses. The money was then used for an expansion of the Bataviaasch Genootschap museum.[6]: 43
^The figures often given are 29 to 33 million, but those figures are for entries. Given the sale of many tickets allowing multiple entries, it is estimated that the real number was 8 to 9 million visitors, still an impressive figure. Jean Martin. L'Empire triomphant, 1871- 1936, Vol. 2, Paris, Denöel, 1990, p. 417.
^TIMES, Special Cable to THE NEW YORK (1931-06-29). "Fire Ruins Dutch Pavilion at French Exhibit; America's Mt. Vernon Endangered but Saved (Published 1931)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
^ abEndang Sri Hardiati; Nunus Supardi; Trigangga; Ekowati Sundari; Nusi Lisabilla; Ary Indrajanto; Wahyu Ernawati; Budiman; Rini (2014). Trigangga (ed.). Potret Museum Nasional Indonesia, Dulu, Kini dan Akan Datang - Pameran "Potret Museum Nasional Indonesia, Dulu, Kini dan Akan Datang", Museum Nasional Indonesia, 17-24 Mei 2014. Jakarta: National Museum of Indonesia, Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.
^Études coloniales 2006-08-25 "L'Exposition coloniale de 1931 : mythe républicain ou mythe impérial" (in French)
^"The House that Sears Built--in Paris". Sears Homes of Chicagoland. September 28, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
^"Park History". Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, Norfolk. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
Referencesedit
Geppert, Alexander C.T., Fleeting Cities. Imperial Expositions in Fin-de-Siècle Europe, Basingstoke/New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010. ISBN978-0-230-22164-2.
L’Estoile, Benoît de, Le goût des autres : de l'Exposition coloniale aux arts premiers, Paris:Flammarion, 2007.
Pierre, Michel, L'Exposition coloniale internationale de 1931, Laure Blévis, Hélène Lafont-Couturier, Nanette Jacomijn-Snoep, Claire Zalc, (ed.)1931, Les étrangers au temps de l'Exposition coloniale, Paris, Gallimard, CNHM, 2008, (ISBN978-2-07-035830-4)
Leininger-Miller, Theresa A., New Negro Artist in Paris: African American Painters & Sculptors in the City of Light, 1922–1934. Piscataway, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 2001.
Further readingedit
Morton, Patricia A., Hybrid Modernities: Representation and Architecture at 1931 International Colonial Exposition in Paris. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2000.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paris Colonial Exposition.
Journal de l'Exposition coloniale online in Gallica, the digital library of the BnF
About the reproduction of Mount Vernon built for the exposition
paris, colonial, exposition, paris, colonial, exhibition, exposition, coloniale, internationale, international, colonial, exhibition, month, colonial, exhibition, held, paris, france, 1931, that, attempted, display, diverse, cultures, immense, resources, franc. The Paris Colonial Exhibition or Exposition coloniale internationale International Colonial Exhibition was a six month colonial exhibition held in Paris France in 1931 that attempted to display the diverse cultures and immense resources of France s colonial possessions Inauguration of the Musee des colonies during the Exposition Bird s eye view of the exhibition grounds The replica of the Cambodian temple at Angkor Wat Contents 1 History 2 The Dutch colonial pavilion fire incident 3 Communist counter exhibition 4 Posterity 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksHistory edit nbsp Booklet presenting the Portuguese contribution to the exposition The exposition opened on 6 May 1931 in the Bois de Vincennes on the eastern outskirts of Paris 1 The scale was enormous 2 It is estimated that from 7 to 9 million visitors came from over the world 3 The French government brought people from the colonies to Paris and had them create native arts and crafts and perform in grandly scaled reproductions of their native architectural styles such as huts or temples 4 Other nations participated in the event including the Netherlands Belgium Italy with a pavilion designed by Armando Brasini Japan Portugal and the United States 2 Politically France hoped the exposition would paint its colonial empire in a beneficial light showing the mutual exchange of cultures and the benefit of France s efforts overseas This would thus negate German criticisms that France was the exploiter of colonial societies and the agent of miscegenation and decadence The exposition highlighted the endemic cultures of the colonies and downplayed French efforts to spread its own language and culture abroad thus advancing the notion that France was associating with colonised societies not assimilating them 4 The Colonial Exposition provided a forum for the discussion of colonialism in general and of French colonies specifically French authorities published over 3 000 reports during the six month period and held over 100 congresses The exposition served as a vehicle for colonial writers to publicise their works and it created a market in Paris for various ethnic cuisines particularly North African and Vietnamese Filmmakers chose French colonies as the subjects of their works The Permanent Colonial Museum today the Cite nationale de l histoire de l immigration opened at the end of the exposition The colonial service experienced a boost in applications 4 26 territories of the empire participated in the Colonial Exposition Issue of postage stamps issued in conjunction with the Exposition The Dutch colonial pavilion fire incident edit nbsp The Dutch colonial pavilion in the Exposition This pavilion burned down in a fire on June 28 1931 destroying some important collections As one of the important colonial powers at that time the Dutch Empire participated in the Exhibition The Netherlands presented a cultural synthesis from their colony the Dutch East Indies now Indonesia However on 28 June 1931 a fire burnt down the Dutch pavilion along with all cultural objects displayed inside 5 6 43 Only a few artefacts could be salvaged including an ancient Javanese bronze Shiva statue which is now kept in the National Museum of Indonesia The cause of this massive fire was never identified and there was speculation at the time that it may have been caused by a short circuit by flammable building materials that were a fire hazard or by arsonist sabotage The material and cultural losses were estimated to be around almost 80 million francs It was said that the French government paid the Netherlands Indies colonial government for its losses The money was then used for an expansion of the Bataviaasch Genootschap museum 6 43 Communist counter exhibition editAt the request of the Communist International Comintern a smaller counter exhibition entitled The Truth About the Colonies organized by the Communist Party and the CGTU attracted very few visitors 5 000 in 8 months 7 The first section was dedicated to abuses committed during the colonial conquests and quoted Albert Londres and Andre Gide s criticisms of forced labour in the colonies while the second one made a comparison of Soviet nationalities policy to imperialist colonialism citation needed Posterity editSome of these buildings were preserved or moved Palais de la Porte Doree Former musee national des Arts d Afrique et d Oceanie current Cite nationale de l histoire de l immigration porte Doree in Paris constructed from 1928 to 1931 by the architects Albert Laprade Leon Bazin and Leon Jaussely The foundations of the Parc zoologique de Vincennes nbsp Pavillon du Togo by Louis Hippolyte Boileau in bois de Vincennes The Pagode de Vincennes on the edges of the lake Daumesnil in the former houses of Cameroon and Togo of Louis Hippolyte Boileau Photo The church Notre Dame des Missions was moved to Epinay sur Seine 95 in 1932 The reproduction of Mount Vernon house of George Washington moved to Vaucresson where it is still visible 8 The Scenic Railway was moved to Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach where it still operates to this day 9 See also editFrench colonial empire Colonialism Human zooNotes edit nbsp Le Cactus architects Andre Granet and Roger Henri Expert Leininger Miller 54 5 a b Leininger Miller 54 The figures often given are 29 to 33 million but those figures are for entries Given the sale of many tickets allowing multiple entries it is estimated that the real number was 8 to 9 million visitors still an impressive figure Jean Martin L Empire triomphant 1871 1936 Vol 2 Paris Denoel 1990 p 417 a b c Leininger Miller 55 TIMES Special Cable to THE NEW YORK 1931 06 29 Fire Ruins Dutch Pavilion at French Exhibit America s Mt Vernon Endangered but Saved Published 1931 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 01 10 a b Endang Sri Hardiati Nunus Supardi Trigangga Ekowati Sundari Nusi Lisabilla Ary Indrajanto Wahyu Ernawati Budiman Rini 2014 Trigangga ed Potret Museum Nasional Indonesia Dulu Kini dan Akan Datang Pameran Potret Museum Nasional Indonesia Dulu Kini dan Akan Datang Museum Nasional Indonesia 17 24 Mei 2014 Jakarta National Museum of Indonesia Directorate General of Culture Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Etudes coloniales 2006 08 25 L Exposition coloniale de 1931 mythe republicain ou mythe imperial in French The House that Sears Built in Paris Sears Homes of Chicagoland September 28 2012 Retrieved October 16 2013 Park History Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach Norfolk Retrieved 2022 05 02 References editGeppert Alexander C T Fleeting Cities Imperial Expositions in Fin de Siecle Europe Basingstoke New York Palgrave Macmillan 2010 ISBN 978 0 230 22164 2 L Estoile Benoit de Le gout des autres de l Exposition coloniale aux arts premiers Paris Flammarion 2007 Pierre Michel L Exposition coloniale internationale de 1931 Laure Blevis Helene Lafont Couturier Nanette Jacomijn Snoep Claire Zalc ed 1931 Les etrangers au temps de l Exposition coloniale Paris Gallimard CNHM 2008 ISBN 978 2 07 035830 4 Leininger Miller Theresa A New Negro Artist in Paris African American Painters amp Sculptors in the City of Light 1922 1934 Piscataway New Jersey Rutgers University Press 2001 Further reading editMorton Patricia A Hybrid Modernities Representation and Architecture at 1931 International Colonial Exposition in Paris Cambridge Massachusetts MIT Press 2000 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paris Colonial Exposition Journal de l Exposition coloniale online in Gallica the digital library of the BnF About the reproduction of Mount Vernon built for the exposition 48 49 51 N 2 24 51 E 48 8307 N 2 4141 E 48 8307 2 4141 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paris Colonial Exposition amp oldid 1186047275, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
