The Wasp — 1888 — page 511: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This engraving depicts a well-dressed bearded man attempting to control a rearing horse labeled "NEGLIGENCE" (visible on the horse's body). Rocks scattered below appear labeled with words suggesting obstacles or failures—one reads "NEGLECT." The cartoon satirizes a political figure's (identity unclear from visible text) attempt to manage or rein in negligence within government or institutional operations. The rearing, wild horse symbolizes negligence as an uncontrollable force, while the man's elevated position and formal dress suggest he holds authority yet struggles against this problem. The satire suggests that negligence or mismanagement remains beyond the figure's control despite his efforts—a commentary on administrative incompetence or failure. Without clearer text identifying the subject, the exact political context remains uncertain, though it critiques institutional dysfunction.