The Wasp — 1891 — page 35: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes what appears to be financial speculation or fraudulent schemes of the 1880s-90s era. The well-dressed figure in the foreground blows soap bubbles labeled "REVOLUTION," "SOLUTIONS," and other inflated promises—visual metaphors for worthless schemes that will inevitably burst. The demon-like figure in the background (labeled "the Evil One") watches approvingly, suggesting malevolent intent behind these bubbles. A soap box sits nearby, reinforcing the notion of "soapbox" rhetoric—empty promises and hot air. The calendar references (1880, 1891) likely mark significant financial crises or scandals of that era. The satire warns readers that grandiose claims and quick-fix solutions are mere illusions destined to collapse, while darker forces profit from public gullibility.