The Wasp — 1894 — page 152: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon mocks portrait painters of the era. Three men are depicted in an artist's studio: Mr. Maple Hall (the patron), Mr. Hy Hicks (apparently an art dealer or critic), and Mr. N.H. (likely the painter). The joke centers on a portrait just completed by "Shindig" that is so unflattering or poorly executed that the patron fears it will drive him to suicide. Mr. Hicks's response—"Great heavens, old man, what's the matter?"—suggests obliviousness to the disaster, while Mr. N.H. gestures helplessly. The satire targets either incompetent portrait painters or the absurdity of commissioned flattery in art. The visual evidence of artistic failure is implicit rather than shown directly.