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 whimsical lithograph, conceived by George Augustus Sala, forecasts the spectacle of the Great Exhibition of 1851. It playfully exaggerates cultural stereotypes, particularly focusing on Turkish and Chinese representations. Note the prevalence of the crescent moon, a potent symbol of the Ottoman Empire, adorning turbans and flags. This emblem, deeply rooted in ancient lunar worship, experienced a resurgence with the rise of Islam, becoming intertwined with notions of power. Its journey is a rich palimpsest - from ancient celestial divinity to its adoption as a marker of Islamic identity. Consider how such symbols, once imbued with spiritual significance, are here parodied, reflecting the Victorian era's fascination and anxieties about the "Orient." The caricatured figures, frozen in exaggerated poses, are not merely humorous; they evoke deeper psychological responses. These images tap into collective fears and desires, revealing how cultural memory shapes our perception of the "other." The emotional power of such representations lies in their ability to both amuse and unsettle, reminding us that the symbols we create are never neutral. They evolve, are layered with new meaning, yet never truly escape their past.