I was looking at some photos from the Paris World’s Fair in 1900. If time travel ever becomes a reality, that is a place I really want to visit. I would probably need a year or two to devote to seeing all the grand, soaring architecture, the gardens, the beautiful art, and the fashion.

These particular photos are from an official guide that was sold to visitors. Normally I feel wistful when I look at photos from this World’s Fair or other events from that time that really interest me.

These photos, however, gave me a very different feeling and brought back a strong association.  Take a look at some of the photos and, as you do, think about how the pictures make you feel.

 

So, what did you think? How do you feel while you looked at these pictures?

I felt a disturbing feeling of dissatisfaction that is connected with excess. As if there were too many magnificent things.  And strangely, it suggested something to me that I had seen a long time ago. I couldn’t put my finger on it right away but it finally came to me. It was the final scene in that epic masterpiece, Citizen Kane.

Maybe the connection is a little tenuous. Check out this clip and tell me: do you see the parallels? Or is it just me?