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 created this satirical lithograph, "The Great Exhibition 'Wot is to Be'," to poke fun at the spectacle of the 1851 exhibition. The composition is divided into two horizontal registers, each filled with caricatured figures. Sala’s use of line is particularly striking; he employs a frenetic, almost scribbled style to exaggerate the features of his subjects, distorting their bodies into grotesque shapes. This distortion isn't merely comedic, but also a commentary on the perceived absurdities and excesses of the Victorian era. By magnifying the physical traits of his characters, Sala critiques the social types and cultural phenomena they represent. Notice how the exaggerated scale and the contrast in textures, from the smooth faces to the rough shading, create a sense of unease. Sala’s cartoon destabilizes the expected decorum associated with high society, challenging the values and categories upheld by the establishment. The chaotic lines and absurd scenes serve as a mirror reflecting a society undergoing rapid transformation.