The Wasp — 1888 — page 465: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts four men in what appears to be an official or diplomatic setting. The central figure wears Chinese dress and a cap, surrounded by three Western gentlemen in formal attire. One holds what looks like a document or scroll marked "HOMAGE." The title "Hoodwinked" suggests deception or trickery. The composition implies Western diplomatic or political figures being manipulated or deceived by a Chinese official—a common theme in 19th-century American political satire reflecting anti-Chinese sentiment and anxieties about foreign manipulation during periods of Chinese immigration or diplomatic tensions. The large book beneath them may reference international law or treaties, suggesting the cartoon critiques how Western powers were supposedly being outsmarted in dealings with China.