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 pen and ink drawing was created by George Augustus Sala to satirize the Great Exhibition of 1851. The composition is structured as a procession of figures, each representing a different aspect of the press and public opinion. Note how Sala uses caricature to distort the figures, exaggerating their features and rendering them almost grotesque. This distortion serves a satirical purpose, undermining the authority and self-importance of the institutions and individuals represented. The linear quality of the drawing emphasizes the graphic nature of the satire, while the absence of color directs our attention to the form and structure of the composition. Sala masterfully employs the visual language of caricature to challenge established meanings and values, creating a work that is both humorous and critical. The grotesque distortions destabilize any sense of order, presenting a chaotic and absurd vision of Victorian society. Ultimately, the drawing prompts us to consider the power of visual representation to shape public perception.