The Wasp — 1890 — page 298: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This engraving, dedicated to "the Grand Army of the Republic" (a Union veterans' organization), depicts an ironic contrast. A poor woman and child huddle in a sparse, cold military barracks or camp, surrounded by minimal possessions and animals. Above them floats a vision of a uniformed military officer (likely a general, given the insignia) presiding over a glorious army scene with flags and soldiers. The satire criticizes the gap between military leadership's grand ambitions and the harsh reality of soldiers' and their families' poverty. While generals dream of military glory and peace, those dependent on the military struggle with deprivation. The title's irony—these conditions are decidedly *not* peaceful—underscores the cartoon's message about neglected veterans and their families post-Civil War.