The Wasp — 1889 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a political cartoon depicting several figures transformed into animals—specifically goats and sheep—bearing "BB" markings (likely indicating a specific political faction or group). The figures with human heads and animal bodies appear to be political leaders or representatives being satirized as "lame ducks" (ineffectual officials). The cartoon's title plays on this metaphor: these politicians are portrayed as helpless, weakened animals rather than effective leaders. The pastoral landscape and herd-like grouping suggest they're being treated as a flock—passive, controlled, or following blindly. Without knowing the specific historical moment or identifying the individual caricatures with certainty, the general satire targets political impotence and the decline of certain leaders' power or influence during this period of American politics.