Judge — October 5, 1912 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Waiting for the Lobster" This 1912 *Judge* cartoon depicts a fashionably dressed woman in an extravagant wide-brimmed hat, seated at a table with flowers and an empty place setting. The title "Waiting for the Lobster" suggests she's anticipating an expensive meal at a restaurant. The satire appears to target upper-class women's indulgence and materialism during the Gilded Age. Her elaborate hat—comically oversized—symbolizes wasteful extravagance. The empty lobster plate implies she's kept waiting, possibly satirizing the pretensions of wealthy diners or the vanity of women who prioritize fashion over substance. The cartoon likely critiques conspicuous consumption among the wealthy elite, a common *Judge* theme. The artist is credited as Valentine (signature visible).