The Wasp — 1894 — page 504: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a woman seated in a chair surrounded by five men at what appears to be a resort (a sign reads "Doughnut Glen—Leading California Summer Resort"). The humor plays on the term "grass widow"—a woman separated from her husband, often temporarily. The caption's dialogue suggests the men are offering companionship to this unattached woman while her husband is absent, with the widow accepting their attention. The satire mocks both the men's behavior (attempting to monopolize an available woman) and the woman's willingness to enjoy male attention during her husband's absence. The illustration style and fashion suggest this is early-1890s social commentary about resort culture and loose marital propriety among the leisure class.