Puck — October 3, 1877 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a woman in fashionable dress, labeled "OUR NATURALIZED BOUFFISTE, AS 'LA FILLE DE MADAME ANGOT.'" The satire appears to mock a woman—likely a prominent American society figure or performer—who has adopted exaggerated French affectations and fashion. "Bouffiste" refers to burlesque or comedic theater; "La Fille de Madame Angot" was a popular French operetta. The woman's extravagant headdress, theatrical pose, and exaggerated features suggest she's ridiculed for pretentious Francophilia. The background detail showing a small dog on a pedestal reinforces the satire: she treats even pets with affected French refinement. The overall mockery targets Americans who uncritically adopt French cultural pretensions, a recurring Puck theme critiquing social climbing and cultural snobbery among the wealthy.