L'exposition coloniale de Paris

1 volume (unpaginated [4] pages, 54 plates in a worn folder): illustrations in black and white and in colour. ; 34 cm. Publication date based on the exhibition date. Paperback with drawstring closure, gilt covers, title on the front cover. Summary:1931 Paris Exposition Coloniale, called by some 'the most spectacular colonial extravaganza ever staged in the West', attracted eight million visitors in six months and showcased the diverse cultures and immense resources of France's colonial possessions. The French government brought people from the colonies to Paris and had them create native arts and crafts and perform in grandly scaled reproductions of their native architectural styles such as huts or temples. Other nations participated in the event, including The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Japan, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Exposition provided a forum for the discussion of colonialism in general and of French colonies specifically. French authorities published over 3,000 reports during the six-month period and held over 100 congresses. It also served as a vehicle for colonial writers to publicise their works, and it created for example a market in Paris for various ethnic cuisines, particularly North African and Vietnamese.…