The Wasp — 1888 — page 347: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a domestic crisis around Otto von Bismarck (the bearded figure seated left), the Prussian chancellor. The title "The Problem That Worries Bismarck" suggests the cartoon addresses a major political dilemma facing him. The scene shows a woman on her knees (likely representing Germany or a European nation) surrounded by military and political figures. A figure above wielding a rod or whip appears to represent military/governmental authority. The composition suggests tension between romantic/diplomatic relations ("Love") versus military conflict ("War"). Given Bismarck's historical role in German unification through military campaigns, this likely satirizes the tension between pursuing diplomatic solutions versus aggressive military expansion—a central concern of 1870s-80s European politics. The caricatured faces appear to represent various political figures of the era.