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

George Augustus Sala made this satirical print in 1851, envisioning the Great Exhibition. Rendered with pen and ink on paper, Sala’s print envisions a world’s fair dominated by the medical profession, specifically the marvels of the British College of Health. The linear quality of the drawing lends itself well to caricature. Note the absurdity with which the medical profession’s “arts and manufactures” are depicted – from the mythical St. George slaying a dragon, to the overdoses of medicine being prescribed. These grotesque images satirize the manufacturing process of medicine, and question the value of medical advancements. The artist critiques Victorian society's obsession with industrial progress, highlighting the potential for over-commercialization and exploitation. Ultimately, this image’s power lies in its ability to make us think critically about the social implications of the exhibition, urging us to consider who truly benefits from such displays of progress. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural significance embedded within this artwork.