The Wasp — 1887 — page 340: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains three distinct sections: a pictorial essay about crime scene photography ("Our Pictures"), a humorous dialogue between a photographer and subject ("At the Artist's"), and several short satirical pieces and advertisements. The cartoons mock photographers' vanity and the absurdity of portrait-sitting. The dialogue shows a female subject complaining about appearing tired in photos, while the photographer insists retouching will help—satirizing the dishonesty of portrait manipulation. The remaining prose pieces appear to be gossipy society commentary, including anecdotes about Washington D.C. social figures and maritime hospital administration. The page demonstrates *The Wasp's* characteristic blend of visual and textual satire targeting contemporary American social pretension and institutional inefficiency.