Puck — March 5, 1879 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Puck cartoon satirizes living conditions in late 19th-century urban tenement housing. The image shows a cross-section view of a crowded apartment building, depicting squalid, cramped living spaces where multiple families are crammed together in poor conditions. The top panels labeled "CHOLERA" and "FOUL AIR" highlight the health hazards—disease and poor ventilation—that plagued such buildings. The satire criticizes both the tenement residents' circumstances and likely the indifference of landlords and city authorities. The title's reference to "inside and out" suggests the contrast between the invisible suffering within tenements and the public's external awareness or lack thereof. This reflects Progressive Era concerns about urban poverty, housing reform, and public health in American cities.