The Great Exhibition "Wot is to Be", Probable Results of The Industry of All Nations in The Year '51, Showing What is to be Exhibited, Who is To Exhibit, in Short How Its All Going to Be Done 1850

This satirical cartoon was made by George Augustus Sala around 1851, likely using graphite on paper. The artist’s hand is immediately evident through the free and expressive lines that form caricatures of American industry and society. The lithographic process would have allowed for mass production, and wider distribution of the image. Sala’s cartoon reflected anxieties surrounding the Great Exhibition in London, and the rapid changes brought by industrialization, labor and global trade. The artist has engaged with the tradition of caricature, exaggerating features and situations for comedic effect. However, this is tied to wider social issues of class, race, and national identity. The production process involved both artistic skill and industrial methods, reflecting the tensions between handmade and mass-produced goods that characterized the era. The material and making of this artwork are crucial to understanding its full meaning, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.