The Wasp — 1888 — page 85: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a wasp-like character in a striped suit labeled "Black Death" attempting to court a woman dressed in elaborate Victorian attire. She holds a small figure labeled "King" and appears distressed or resistant to his advances. The "San Quentin" flag visible in the background suggests a prison setting. The "Black Death" label and wasp imagery likely reference a notorious criminal or scandalous figure from the period seeking to win back favor or reputation. The cartoon's title poses the question whether this disreputable character can successfully seduce or regain acceptance into respectable society. Without definitive historical context, the specific identities remain unclear, though the satire clearly mocks either romantic manipulation or attempts at social rehabilitation by a morally questionable figure.