Puck — October 9, 1878 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page depicts a satirical commentary on modern womanhood, likely from the late 19th century. The left illustration shows a woman in contemporary dress in a contemplative pose. The right panel, titled "The Girl of the Period" and "The Last Greeting Her Lover," presents a contrasting domestic scene with multiple figures. The satire appears to critique changing gender roles and women's independence during this era. The "girl of the period" likely refers to the "New Woman"—a controversial figure who challenged Victorian conventions through education, employment, and social freedoms. Puck uses the juxtaposition to mock both modern women's aspirations and traditional domestic expectations, highlighting the cultural tensions surrounding female emancipation that dominated late 19th-century American social discourse.