The Wasp — 1896 — page 297: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a well-dressed man in formal attire (top hat and coat) recoiling in disgust, captioned "How disgusting!" The figure appears to represent a hypocritical wealthy or elite person—the "Pharisee" reference invoking biblical pharisees known for outward piety masking inner corruption. The satire likely critiques class hypocrisy: someone of apparent respectability expressing moral outrage while embodying the very vices they condemn. The cartoon's placement alongside text discussing Democratic political figures and labor disputes suggests it comments on political establishment figures presenting themselves as morally superior while engaging in self-serving conduct. The specific target remains unclear without additional context, but the overall message concerns performative righteousness masking actual corruption.