Foreign Treasures: Elizabeth Ginno's Costume Etchings at the 1940 Exposition on Treasure Island, San Francisco

Abstract

Near the beginning of her career, Berkeley artist and etcher Elizabeth Ginno was afforded the opportunity to participate in one of the most culturally significant, pre-World War Two events to affect the public perception of West Coast Art The Golden Gate International Exposition held on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay (colloquially known as the World's Fair on Treasure Island). While working at the 1940 edition of the Fair, Ginno created some 75 etchings depicting men, women, and children of various cultures in traditional dress. Ginno's training in the arts and early theatrical costuming experience provided her with the background necessary to create these objects. She combined the documentation and communication aspects of costume illustration with the artistry and commercial appeal of etching. During the 1940 Exposition, Ginno utilized the exposure to foreign cultures to document traditional dress. Seemingly, these were merely depictions of 'foreign visitors', but as historian Elizabeth Ann Coleman has noted' As in all human endeavors, the truth is always slightly bent to favor someone.' 1 Though these etchings represent 'timeless' costumes steeped in regional history and traditions, they have actually captured a very distinct moment in time. They reveal a growing concern, held by Ginno and the Bay Area at large, over the presumed loss of traditional European cultures due to Hitler's growing occupation of Western Europe. More significant than accuracy, quality or technical skill these works primarily function as a link to a lost era and provide a record of the Bay Area's public memory just prior to the U.S. involvement in World War Two. In a more general sense, this private collection of etchings allows historians to glean a better picture of the life and concerns of Bay Area residents, which in this case, seem to focus on current events, race and politics.