Travel literature was one of the most popular genres in the late medieval and early modern periods. These were times of unprecedented travel by Chinese, Arabs, and Europeans. People at home were eager for news of the people and places either previously unknown to them or otherwise distant. This new age of travel coincided with the advent of the printing press in Europe, which increased both the spread and the thirst for knowledge about these other places and peoples. This exhibit will explore both the art of constructing a good travel narrative, based on real or imagined travel, and the artwork that often accompanied these literary works.

Exhibit details

What: “The Art of the Travel Narrative”
When: Oct. 20, 2022 to Jan. 27, 2023
Where: Elmer L. Andersen Library, ground floor, Wallin Center, Bell Gallery
Hours: Open during regular hours at Elmer L. Andersen Library
Curator: Marguerite Ragnow
Exhibit designer: Darren Terpstra