The Wasp — 1891 — page 314: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts **E.F. Searles**, identified as an "Artistic Capitalist," trying on a suit made entirely of dollar signs. The satire critiques extreme wealth and materialism—Searles is literally clothed in money, suggesting his identity is inseparable from his riches. The surrounding elements reinforce this: cans labeled with large sums, "Christian Science Paste," and "Paper Hangers Suit for Sale" appear to mock both his pretensions and commercial schemes. The caption's double meaning—that the suit "fits just like the paper on the wall"—likely references wallpapering (financial fraud or hollow appearance). Published October 3, 1891, the cartoon exemplifies *The Wasp*'s muckraking tradition, attacking San Francisco's wealthy elite through grotesque caricature and visual metaphor.