The Wasp — 1896 — page 156: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page shows three sequential photographs of what appears to be a horse race at an Australian racetrack, labeled as depicting: 1) "Lining up for the start," 2) "They're off," and 3) "A Lot Finish." The satirical framing as a "starting machine" suggests this is political commentary about Australia—likely mocking Australian political or social processes by presenting them as a mechanical, predetermined spectacle. The repetition across three similar images emphasizes the staged or formulaic nature of the depicted event. Without additional context about The Wasp's publication date or current Australian politics of that period, the specific targets remain unclear, though the comparison to a racing "machine" implies criticism of something Australian being artificially orchestrated rather than genuinely competitive.