The World in 1904 — A Double-Hemisphere Map Using Endonyms and Period Calligraphy

In 1904, the world stood on the threshold of the twentieth century’s great rupture.

This hand-painted and historically researched map depicts the global order in the final decade before the First World War, when European empires dominated international affairs and older imperial structures still endured.

The map is composed in the double-hemisphere style popular from the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, with calligraphic conventions carefully modeled on period cartography. Each country is labeled in its native script—Russia in Cyrillic, Japan in Japanese, and others accordingly—reflecting how the world understood itself rather than how it is retrospectively labeled today.

At this moment, the British, French, and German empires span the globe, while the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian Empires persist despite mounting internal strain. The United States appears as an emergent power, newly extended into the Philippines, not yet the global hegemon it would soon become.

Bookending the title are two original watercolor landscapes representing the symbolic contrast between the “Old World” and the “New World.” Beneath the map, the flags of the principal global powers of 1904 further anchor the work in its historical context.

Each map is produced as a high-quality giclée print in a range of sizes. Due to image compression for web display, fine details may appear softer online than in the physical print. This piece required approximately two months of research, drafting, and painting.

This map was researched and hand-painted by a trained historical cartographer with academic experience in European and global history. Each CartographyCraft map is designed to prioritize historical accuracy, visual clarity, and period-appropriate aesthetics over modern anachronism. If you are interested in a print with a frame or the original, contact the site owner directly.