The Wasp — 1890 — page 321: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts an artist painting a caricature while a well-dressed man observes. The text reads "PICTURES FOR THE GALLERY OF THE NE[W]" (incomplete in the visible portion). The cartoon appears to satirize artistic pretension or artistic fakery. The artist is exaggerating features—notably a grotesquely distorted face—while the observer watches approvingly. A barrel labeled "BLACK PAINT" sits nearby, suggesting the artist uses excessive dark shading or relies on crude techniques rather than genuine skill. The satire likely targets either: (1) incompetent artists gaining gallery acceptance, or (2) the art world's acceptance of deliberately unflattering or grotesque work. The well-dressed patron's approval despite the obvious caricature suggests mockery of bad artistic taste or institutional gullibility in the art world. Without additional context about *The Wasp* publication date, the specific "Gallery" referenced remains unclear.