The Wasp — 1895 — page 1000: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1890s satirical cartoon attacks Chris Dunker, a San Francisco supervisor, through contrasting caricatures. The left panel shows him as a junk shop proprietor surrounded by worthless goods and dubious business dealings. The right panel depicts him as an angelic figure—a sarcastic reversal suggesting how his supporters view him. The satire targets the gap between Dunker's actual character (implied to be corrupt and self-interested) and his public persona. The article discusses whether Dunker truly operates a junk shop and questions his integrity, suggesting he uses his official position for personal profit while claiming philanthropic motives. The cartoon ridicules both Dunker's questionable business practices and his supporters' naive faith in his supposed virtues.