The Wasp — 1891 — page 313: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical comic strip contrasts Victorian-era propriety with contemporary (likely 1880s-90s) social behavior. The "Then" panels show rigid formality: restrained courtship, formal greetings, and strict decorum. The "Now" panels depict modern relaxation of these standards: casual flirtation, physical dancing, and informal interaction between young men and women. The title suggests the cartoon mocks both perspectives—implying that each generation views the other's standards as absurd. Victorian readers would see the "Now" scenes as scandalously improper (women dancing without chaperones, unrestrained physical contact), while the "Then" scenes appear laughably stiff and artificial by comparison. This reflects anxieties about rapid social change and generational conflict regarding courtship and gender relations in the late 19th century.