The Wasp — 1896 — page 254: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration critiques hypocrisy among the wealthy and morally self-righteous. The main image shows a well-dressed man and woman in an intimate, improper embrace—she seated on his lap—while appearing respectable in formal attire. On the wall behind them, sketches suggest sexual or scandalous activity. The caption beneath mocks society's pretense: it questions how people can lecture about "moral restraint" while simultaneously attending ballet performances featuring "shamelessly undressed" dancers in local theaters. The satire suggests that Victorian-era elites publicly claimed piety while privately engaging in or enjoying indecent behavior—the "veneer" being their false respectability masking actual conduct.