ABSTRACT

Chapter 4, ‘Images of the world,’ is the second case-study chapter. The chapter demonstrates how the transnational trade in illustrations structured the visual representation of the Parisian World Exposition of 1867. Because the exposition generated an enormous amount of interest all over the world, illustrated newspapers eagerly tried to provide their readers with images. Based on a study of 31 illustrated newspapers published in 15 different European countries and the United States, this chapter explores how certain images of the exposition, being sold, copied, and redrawn, were disseminated on a massive scale. As a result, the transnational trade favoured the dissemination of a certain image of the exposition, which could be readily consumed by readers all over the world.