World's Faire

Today at the World's Faire, I saw many different and interesting exhibits. First, I went to a Fine Arts exhibit in which I learned about varying movements including impressionism and symbolism. Impressionism is a prominent style which emphasizes bright colors and sketchy strokes while symbolism expresses the emotions and ideas of the artist. Another topic I learned about was Romanticism which stresses dark colors, dramatic contrast, and patriotic themes. Some of the famous artists I learned about include Pierre Bonard and Paul Signac who were both French painters. It was really interesting to realize how art increased literacy rates, encouraging people to read newspapers and articles.

The next exhibit I went to informed by about the bicycle. The bicycle was inspired by the "dandy horse" which was made solely out of wood. It was fascinating to know that there was an entirely separate bicycle made for women. The classic bicycle known as the "Penny Farthing" bicycle could be ridden at high speeds because the front wheel was much larger than that of a normal bicycle.

Another exhibit I attended was called "Art Nouveau." I learned about the concept of "New Art" and the attempts made to create a more international style. Some notable artists such as Alphonse Mucha and Antonio Gaudí were influential towards artists today as they reflected individualized and distinctive styles. It was also interesting to know that this design reform was a reaction to the Industrial Revolution by promoting harmony and the new innovations.

The last exhibit I visited taught me a lot about the construction of the Eiffel Tower. I learned that it was built by Gustavus Eiffel in a competition to build the faire's entrance. To build the Eiffel Tower, workers used new methods such as puddle irons, taking more than two years to finish the project. Additionally, there were five elevators built to help people reach the top of the tower safely. It eventually built value as a radiotelegraph station, and now has a world-renowned legacy.