Arctic region of Russia at the 1900 World Exhibition

Abstract

Russia’s participation in the World Exhibitions reflected the self-identification of Russia and expressed the desire to present the country as a strong power, inscribed in the context of World development and interaction. Of particular importance for the demonstration of the technical power of Russia and its achievements in various areas of culture was the World Exhibition of 1900 in Paris. One of the central pavilions of the Russian department of the exhibition was the Pavilion of the Russian outskirts devoted to various topics from the life of the peoples of the Caucasus, Central Asia, Siberia, and the development of the Far North. This article discusses the features of the exhibition, representing the uniqueness of the North, its nature, ancient monuments, and the life of the northern peoples of the Russian Empire. It was represented by the huge panels made by Russian artist Konstantin Korovin. At the turn of the century, at the time of heightened interest in the Arctic from scientists, researchers, writers and artists, Korovin repeatedly made trips to the Russian North, which every time made a huge impression on him, which radically changed the artist’s stylistic style, allowed him to improve the technique of creating extensive panel, to prove himself as a decorative artist. The article concludes that the participation of Konstantin Korovin in the organization of the exhibition not only brought great benefits in the organization of the World Exhibition in Paris, but also turned out to be his greatest creative success. The exhibition in Paris in 1900 testified that Russia was developing rapidly at the time; it ceased to be exotic and incomprehensible and revealed its national identity.