Brussels International (1897)
Encyclopedia
The Brussels International Exposition (Exposition Internationale de Bruxelles) of 1897 was a World's Fair
held in Brussels
, Belgium, from May 10, 1897 through November 8, 1897. There were 27 participating countries, and an estimated attendance of 7.8 million people.
The main venues of the fair were the Cinquantenaire
Parks and a colonial section at Tervuren
showcasing King Leopold II of Belgium
's personal property, the Congo Free State
. The two exposition sites were linked by a purpose-built tramway.
structure to evoke the forest, using Bilinga
wood, an African tree. The interior exhibition displayed ethnographic objects, stuffed animals and in the "Hall of the Great Cultures" Congo's most important export products were displayed: coffee, cacao and tobacco. In the park, an example Congolese village was built, where 60 Africans lived through the period of the fair. The success of this exhibition led to the permanent establishment of the Royal Museum for Central Africa
in 1898.
architecture at the height of the style: Henry van de Velde
, Paul Hankar
, Gédéon Bordiau, and Gustave Serrurier-Bovy
. Henri Privat-Livemont produced posters for the exposition.
Disappointingly there seem to be few physical remnants. The small neo-classical pavilion called the Temple of Human Passions
that Victor Horta
designed to house a sculptural relief by Jef Lambeaux
was completed in time for the fair, but its opening was delayed by disputes until 1899.
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
held in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium, from May 10, 1897 through November 8, 1897. There were 27 participating countries, and an estimated attendance of 7.8 million people.
The main venues of the fair were the Cinquantenaire
Cinquantenaire
Parc du Cinquantenaire or Jubelpark is a large public, urban park in the easternmost part of the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium....
Parks and a colonial section at Tervuren
Tervuren
Tervuren is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Duisburg, Tervuren, Vossem and Moorsel. On January 1, 2006, Tervuren had a total population of 20,636...
showcasing King Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
's personal property, the Congo Free State
Congo Free State
The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa which was privately controlled by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Its origins lay in Leopold's attracting scientific, and humanitarian backing for a non-governmental organization, the Association internationale africaine...
. The two exposition sites were linked by a purpose-built tramway.
Colonial exhibit
The Tervuren section was hosted in the Palace of the Colonies (although there was only one colony), designed by Belgian architect Albert-Philippe Aldophe. In the main hall Georges Hobé designed a distinctive wooden Art NouveauArt Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
structure to evoke the forest, using Bilinga
Bilinga
Bilinga is a small village in the Republic of the Congo.- Transport :It is served by a station on the Congo-Ocean Railway near the place where a new railway route deviated from the original route.- External links :*...
wood, an African tree. The interior exhibition displayed ethnographic objects, stuffed animals and in the "Hall of the Great Cultures" Congo's most important export products were displayed: coffee, cacao and tobacco. In the park, an example Congolese village was built, where 60 Africans lived through the period of the fair. The success of this exhibition led to the permanent establishment of the Royal Museum for Central Africa
Royal Museum for Central Africa
The Royal Museum for Central Africa is an ethnographical and natural history museum in Tervuren, just outside Brussels, Belgium. It was first built to show off King Leopold II's Congo Free State for the 1897 World Exhibition. It focuses mainly on Congo, Belgium's former colony...
in 1898.
Art Nouveau
The primary designers of the fair were among of the Belgian masters of Art NouveauArt Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
architecture at the height of the style: Henry van de Velde
Henry van de Velde
Henry Clemens Van de Velde was a Belgian Flemish painter, architect and interior designer. Together with Victor Horta and Paul Hankar he could be considered one of the main founders and representatives of Art Nouveau in Belgium...
, Paul Hankar
Paul Hankar
Paul Hankar was a Belgian architect and designer who, along with Victor Horta and Henry Van de Velde, is considered one of the principal architects to work in the Art Nouveau style in Brussels at the turn of the twentieth century.-Formative Studies: Hankar was born at Frameries. He began his...
, Gédéon Bordiau, and Gustave Serrurier-Bovy
Gustave Serrurier-Bovy
Gustave Serrurier-Bovy was a Belgian architect and furniture designer. He is credited with creating the Art Nouveau style, coined as a style in Paris by Bing....
. Henri Privat-Livemont produced posters for the exposition.
Disappointingly there seem to be few physical remnants. The small neo-classical pavilion called the Temple of Human Passions
Temple of Human Passions
The Temple of Human Passions , also known as Pavillon Horta-Lambeaux, is a neoclassical pavilion in the form of a Greek temple that was built by Victor Horta in 1896 in the Cinquantenaire Park of Brussels. Although classical in appearance, the building shows the first steps of the young Victor...
that Victor Horta
Victor Horta
Victor, Baron Horta was a Belgian architect and designer. John Julius Norwich described him as "undoubtedly the key European Art Nouveau architect." Indeed, Horta is one of the most important names in Art Nouveau architecture; the construction of his Hôtel Tassel in Brussels in 1892-3 means that...
designed to house a sculptural relief by Jef Lambeaux
Jef Lambeaux
Jef Lambeaux was a Belgian sculptor born in Antwerp. He studied at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts, and was a pupil of Jean Geefs. His first work, War, was exhibited in 1871, and was followed by a long series of humorous groups, including Children dancing, Say Good Morning, The Lucky Number and;...
was completed in time for the fair, but its opening was delayed by disputes until 1899.