The Wasp — 1891 — page 119: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features an engraving titled "Lady of the Imperial Harem" alongside text discussing "The Court of the Golden Dragon"—referring to the Chinese imperial court. The illustration depicts a seated woman in elaborate traditional Chinese dress, presented as an exotic subject for Western readers. The accompanying article describes the Chinese Emperor's harem, imperial palaces, and court customs with orientalist fascination typical of late 19th-century American journalism. The satire appears directed at Western perceptions of China's imperial system as foreign and mysterious rather than critiquing Chinese society itself. The Wasp presents these details as curiosities for American audiences, reflecting the era's voyeuristic interest in distant Asian cultures during a period of increasing Western imperial involvement in China.