Judge — October 5, 1889 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts three caricatured male figures in formal attire wearing top hats, positioned beneath the Brooklyn Bridge. The caption reads "A possible Democratic combination which would be hard to beat." The cartoon's meaning is unclear without identifying the specific figures. However, the phrase "3 of a kind" and reference to a "Democratic combination" suggest this mocks potential Democratic political alliances or candidates from 1889. The exaggerated facial features and grotesque caricaturing styles were typical of 19th-century political satire. The Brooklyn Bridge backdrop (completed in 1883) may reference New York politics specifically. Without confirmed identifications of the three figures, the precise political targets and satirical point remain uncertain, though the tone is clearly derisive toward Democratic prospects.