The Wasp — 1895 — page 622: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* depicts what appears to be a domestic scene with exaggerated, grotesque figures arranged in a theatrical composition. The central figure shows a woman with an extremely large bonnet or hat, surrounded by smaller figures and elaborate floral decorations. The text references "Wassily Inducements" and mentions "Developed in This Country" alongside "Which Enriches the Exchequer," suggesting this critiques American commercial or industrial practices—possibly manufacturing, fashion, or consumer goods. The elaborate, somewhat chaotic arrangement of figures and the emphasis on the outsized bonnet suggests satire about consumer excess, fashion trends, or wasteful spending habits. Without clearer identification of specific political figures, the precise target remains unclear, though it appears to mock contemporary American materialism or industrial production.