Introduction

I’m Elizabeth Cronin, the Robert B. Menschel Curator of Photography here at The New York Public Library and curator of The Awe of The Arctic: A Visual History. For most people in the world, the Arctic is a faraway region and yet, it is a vital part of our ecosystem. Because of the rapidly warming climate, we are increasingly becoming aware of just how important the Arctic is. Unless we live in or have traveled there, most of our ideas about the region likely come from what we heard or seen in media.

This exhibition seeks to enlarge our view of the polar North as it traces the visual conceptions of the Arctic across continents and through five centuries. Beginning in the Wachenheim Gallery, the exhibition focuses on expedition narratives from the 16th century through the beginning of the 20th century. These books include all sorts of depictions— from the rudimentary and stereotypical to the fantastical and sublime. Coupled with text that reported on new science and provided dramatic episodes and close calls, these illustrations fueled the imagination.

As the number of expeditions increased in the late 19th century, the popularity of the Arctic spread. In the Ispahani-Bartos Gallery, a wide range of media—including cigarette cards, a plate, stereographs, and brochures— emphasize the growing fascination with all things Arctic and the competitiveness of its explorers. Concluding on the third floor in the Rayner Wing and Prints Gallery, the exhibition jumps to the 21st century and shows over 60 works by contemporary artists. They help put the rich history of the Arctic and our current era into perspective as they show us just how multifaceted and awe-inspiring the Arctic truly is.

This audio guide brings together different voices from Arctic experts across the world. My sincere thanks to them for participating.