To mark two significant anniversaries—100 years since the competition
call for the construction of the Prague Fair Palace and 50 years since
the devastating fire of 1974—the National Gallery is showcasing the
history of the building through a public exhibition installed in the
Korzo space, adjacent to the piazza in front of the palace. The
exhibition explores the building’s history and its transformation over
the decades. These changes are visually documented in iconic
perspectives such as the exterior view from Heřmanova Street, the
central views of the Great Hall and the Small Hall. The selected motifs
highlight the activities of the Prague Trade Fairs during the interwar
period, the post-war folk decor of the 52nd and final fair in 1951, and
the period of administrative use of the palace by various Foreign Trade
Companies. The 1974 fire stands as a momentous visual milestone,
initiating the comprehensive reconstruction of the building in order to
accommodate the needs of the National Gallery, completed in 1995. Key
photographs are accompanied by brief captions to provide historical
context. A typographic collage of logos evokes the palace’s lively
trading and business activities.
