The Wasp — 1895 — page 146: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes California women's adoption of impractical spring fashions. The central female figure, labeled "California, In Her New Spring Costume," struggles to balance multiple oversized burdens: large spheres labeled "Investigation Committee," "Retrenchment," and "Reform Government" sit atop her head. The caption reads: "Enough to Scare Any Woman," suggesting these political/governmental demands are as burdensome and ridiculous as the exaggerated fashion designs shown. Additional elements—a crinoline frame (left), sketched dress designs (right), and a bear (likely representing California itself)—reinforce the theme that women are overwhelmed by simultaneous pressures from fashion trends and governance reform expectations. The satire mocks both impractical female fashion and perhaps women's involvement in political reform movements.