The Wasp — 1877 — page 290: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes what appears to be a crowd of working-class or unemployed men gathered outside a saloon. The figures are caricatured with exaggerated features typical of 19th-century satirical illustration. Multiple men hold signs with text (mostly illegible in this image quality) and bottles, suggesting they're advertising or promoting the establishment. The title "SALOON BUMS" labels the subjects derisively. The satire likely critiques either: - Urban poverty and alcoholism among the working class - Commercial exploitation of desperate men - Political corruption involving saloon culture The crowded, chaotic composition emphasizes the disorder and desperation of the scene. Without clearer sign text or publication date, the specific political target remains unclear, but the cartoon mocks marginal urban figures and their association with saloons.