The Wasp — 1888 — page 130: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This *Wasp* cartoon from February 18, 1888 depicts three male figures in formal Victorian dress reacting with exaggerated joy to something presented by a central figure holding what appears to be a document labeled "MONOPOLY." The cartoon satirizes monopolistic business practices and their beneficiaries. The three pleased gentlemen likely represent wealthy industrialists, politicians, or corrupt officials who benefit from monopoly arrangements. The central figure appears to be presenting or promoting these monopolistic dealings. The satire criticizes how monopolies enriched a select few while harming the general public—a major political issue during the Gilded Age. The exaggerated poses and expressions mock the shameless self-interest of those profiting from such arrangements at the expense of fair competition and consumers.