The Wasp — 1889 — page 70: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *The Wasp* depicts a chaotic courtroom or official proceeding presided over by "JUDGE SULLIVAN" (visible on the bench). The scene shows numerous caricatured figures engaged in tumultuous activity—some fighting, arguing, or gesturing wildly around a central dispute. The cartoon appears to criticize judicial corruption or incompetence, with exaggerated facial features typical of late 19th-century satirical art. A large figure on the left observes the mayhem, while various smaller figures struggle in the background. The anarchic composition suggests a legal system in disarray. Without additional context about specific San Francisco events, the exact political targets remain unclear, though the cartoon clearly mocks the justice system's dysfunction during this period.