The Wasp — 1889 — page 127: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes the 1884-1885 Berlin Conference, where European powers negotiated control of African territories. The caricatured figures appear to be European diplomats engaged in colonial negotiations. The title references "Old Bayard," likely Secretary of State Thomas F. Bayard, suggesting American diplomatic naiveté or exclusion from these negotiations. The dog portrait on the wall may represent a symbolic witness to the proceedings, or possibly satirize one of the participants. The cartoon criticizes the European powers for cynically dividing African territory while potentially deceiving American interests or representatives. The setting—a formal diplomatic meeting—contrasts with the cartoon's suggestion of dishonest dealings ("fooling"). The satire reflects American anxiety about being marginalized in imperial power negotiations reshaping global politics.