The Wasp — 1891 — page 49: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts **Uncle Sam** as a tall, gaunt figure in formal dress holding a model building (likely representing a government commission or institution). He gestures expansively toward a busy harbor scene on the right, filled with ships and commercial activity. The satire appears to critique **Uncle Sam's relationship with government commissions**—possibly mocking how the federal government promotes or oversees commercial ventures, or satirizing the disconnect between government oversight and actual economic activity. The exaggerated, caricatured features of Uncle Sam suggest skepticism about government competence or sincerity. The harbor scene's detail contrasts with Uncle Sam's theatrical pose, implying a gap between government posturing and real-world commerce. Without the magazine's date, the specific commission referenced remains **unclear**.