Judge — February 14, 1891 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts women in classical dress being urged to support Chicago's fair (likely the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition). The seated figure in the foreground represents Chicago or the fair itself, while standing women around her appear to represent different states or regions ("sectional"). The caption's call to "put your shoulders to the wheel" is a rallying cry for nationwide cooperation in making the fair successful. The satire likely mocks the grandiose promotional efforts and the expectation that women—who couldn't vote and had limited political power—should enthusiastically labor for civic projects. The classical allegorical style was common in Judge magazine's political commentary, using feminine personifications of cities and concepts to critique contemporary social dynamics and power structures.