1900 begins with a selection of works from the Exposition Décennale, an international exhibition of art created between 1889-1900, that was held as part of the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle (World's Fair). Presenting art from 29 countries, the Exposition Décennale allowed nations to showcase their cultural achievements. This endeavor was mirrored in other portions of the Exposition Universelle, where countries highlighted their accomplishments in fields such as industry and technology, each participant vying for supremacy in an era defined by burgeoning nationalism and colonial expansionism. Like the Exposition Décennale, the first section of 1900 embraces a full sweep of styles, among them Symbolism, Victorian Classicism, Naturalism, Divisionism, and Realism, and juxtaposes works with radically different subject matter by hanging them together.

After this introduction, which provides a look at a selection of the art considered significant at the turn of the century, 1900 is organized thematically to demonstrate the distinctive treatments that artists of differing schools and nationalities brought to similar subject matter.