Brussels International Exposition (1910)

Location

The grounds and buildings were partly located around the Solbosch/Solbos district (in the City of Brussels' southern extension), and partly in the Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark (a remainder of the 1897 World's Fair), where the fine art's exhibition took place. The colonial exhibition was hosted in the newly built Palace of the Colonies, today's Royal Museum for Central Africa, in the suburb of Tervuren. Another major site for the exhibition was the Mont des Arts/Kunstberg in central Brussels, although this site was largely demolished during the post-war construction process of Brusselisation.

File:Algemeens Wereldtentoonstelling van Brussel 1910 - Koloniale Afdeeling Park van Tervueren (imp. E. & H. Mertens).jpg|Poster for the colonial section of the Brussels International Exposition of 1910 File:Plan de l'Exposition de Bruxelles de 1910.png|Map of the 1910 World's Fair in the Solbosch/Solbos district of Brussels

Country participation

There were 26 participating countries: Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Germany (whose Attaché des Reichskommissars was Heinrich Albert), Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Persia, Peru, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United States and Uruguay.

The Dutch and German pavilions displayed the decorative arts and architecture of their home country. The Italian pavilion illustrated the Italian Renaissance. The Belgian pavilion was represented through the cities of Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp and Liège.

File:0 BRUXELLES 6.jpg|German pavilion File:Side view of the Tunisian Pavilion at the Brussels International Exposition of 1910.jpg|Tunisian pavilion File:Village sénégalais à l'Expo 1910.jpg|Entrance to the 'Senegalese Village' File:Postkaart 'Exposition Universelle Bruxelles 1910, Pavillon de la Ville de Liège' voor Meeús, Antwerpen, 1910, JM.96.0640.00, collectie Jenevermuseum.jpg|City of Liège pavilion

Exhibits

The exhibition was dedicated to science, the arts, industry and trade. The fine art's section included modern art loaned by the French including three works each by Claude Monet, Auguste Rodin and Auguste Renoir, as well as two works by Henri Matisse. Painters who participated included the Belgian Aloïs Boudry who won a silver medal, and the French Adrien Karbowsky.

During the exhibition, the altarpiece of St. John Berchman's Church was presented. The Belgian engineer also exhibited his new Type 10 pacific locomotive.

File:App0374.jpg|La création du monde pavilion File:American wild west show Brussels 1910.jpg|View of part of the attractions (American Wild West Show pictured) File:Arbre Géant Expo Bruxelles 1910.jpg|The giant tree

Fire

There was a large fire on 14 and 15 August which gutted several pavilions in the Solbosch part of the exhibition. Part of the Belgian and French sections were destroyed, but the worst hit was the English section. After the fire, some destroyed parts were rebuilt at a rapid pace. This event attracted the attention of the public and the organisers were able to successfully use it for the promotion of the exhibition.

Legacy

The Hotel Astoria was built for the fair, at 101–103, rue Royale/Koningsstraat, and is now a protected monument by the Monuments and Sites Directorate of the Brussels-Capital Region.

References

Citations

Bibliography

References

1. "Albert, Heinrich (Friedrich)(German)". Bundesarchiv.
2. "Fire at the Expo - The World's Fair Community".
3. "Humor Picture of the Day - The World's Fair Community".
4. "Bruxelles Pentagone - Hôtel Astoria - Rue Royale 100, 101, 101a, 101b, 101c, 103, 103a, 103b, 103c - VAN DIEVOET H.".