Paper manufacturing industry. 19th century artwork of women working in the paper manufacturing industry. They are sorting and shredding piles of fibrous materials that will be used to make paper. Paper is made by drying a wet mixture of cellulose plant fibres. Although wood is most commonly used as a source of the paper pulp, other plant materials, such as cotton, hemp and flax, may be used instead. Paper was relatively expensive until the advent of steam-driven paper-making processes in the 19th century. Artwork taken from Grands Hommes et Grands Faits de l'Industrie (Great Men and Great Facts of Industry), France, circa 1880.