The Wasp — 1895 — page 309: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page satirizes the Parisian entertainment culture, specifically the "Bal Bullier" dance hall. The text mocks both the venue itself and the working-class women who frequented it as dancers and entertainers. The left illustration shows a female dancer in can-can style dress. The right illustration ("Two Prime Favorites") depicts well-dressed gentlemen observing working-class women dancers. The satire targets the pretentiousness of the establishment—described as a "cheap edition" of high culture—and ridicules both the dancers (portrayed as unsophisticated, poorly dressed despite their efforts) and the male patrons seeking entertainment. The text emphasizes the crude, noisy atmosphere and the dancers' lower social status, suggesting class-based mockery of Parisian nightlife entertainment.