The Wasp — 1878 — page 304: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* magazine depicts a large demonic or monstrous figure (upper left) overlooking a scene divided into two parts. The top shows three men in an office or official setting, appearing to conduct business. The bottom depicts poverty—figures in shabby clothing around a cooking pot, including a woman and child. The caption's wordplay—"See Musk But, Who Keeps Them"—appears to critique wealth inequality and governance. The monster likely represents unchecked greed, corruption, or capitalist excess, while the contrasting scenes illustrate the gap between wealthy officials/businessmen and impoverished masses. The cartoon suggests that while those in power accumulate wealth ("musk"), the poor remain trapped in destitution, questioning who truly sustains society.