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

Art Historical Context

Step into the satirical world of 1850 with *The Great Exhibition "Wot to Be," Probable Results of The of All Nations in The '51*, a witty wood engraving by George Augustus, credited alongside the fictional "Committee of the Society Keeping Things in Their Places Measuring just 5 1/16 x 9 5/16 inches, this compact print from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection captures the and hype surrounding London's Great Exhibition of 1851 world's first international fair, housed in the revolutionary Crystal Palace. Created a year before the event, organized by Prince Albert to showcase global industrial marvels, Sala's work pokes fun at the grandiose preparations. The playful title, with its cheeky Cockney slang ("Wot is to Be"), hints at a humorous take on what will be exhibited, by whom, and how it all might unfold, reflecting mid-19th-century anxieties about progress, nationalism, and spectacle. Wood engraving, a precise technique using end-grain wood blocks for sharp details, made such satirical commentary accessible through inexpensive printed media like Punch magazine. This piece endures as a cultural snapshot, blending sharp visual wit with social critique. It reminds us how art can deflate even the most ambitious human endeavors, inviting visitors to chuckle at the era's optimism while appreciating the craft of Victorian printmaking. (198 words)

About the Artist

George Augustus Sala|Committee of the Society for Keeping Things in Their Places (British|British) · 1828 |1840 –1895 |1860

British, London 1828–1895 Hove|London