Life — July 24, 1890 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon critiques British imperial exploitation during the colonial era. The sign advertises "British Subjects" for sale "in lots to suit purchasers," with payment in "gold-dust and ivory"—a darkly ironic reference to how colonized peoples and resources were extracted for profit. The figures appear to represent British colonial administrators conducting what's presented as a commercial transaction. The labeled regions (Helgoland, Helicoland, etc.) reference actual territories Britain controlled or acquired. The masses of people depicted in the background suggest populations being commodified. The caption "Business is Business! Victoria sets up in a new line. Great profits expected" attributes this to Queen Victoria's era, satirizing how the British Empire operated through systematic exploitation disguised as legitimate commerce. The cartoon condemns colonialism's dehumanizing logic.