The Wasp — 1893 — page 453: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration from *The Wasp* depicts a well-dressed man (standing) beside a woman seated on what appears to be a throne or elevated cushion. The caption references "Miss Kalsie Maysie of Washington Foot" and mentions a "common barber" and "Green Lithoshein" publication. The satire appears to mock a woman of social pretension—suggesting she presents herself as aristocratic or "regal" despite humble origins (the barber reference). The man's formal dress contrasts with the woman's ostentatious pose, likely criticizing either social climbing, vanity, or a specific public figure's affected gentility. Without identifying the specific individuals or historical context, the cartoon's core joke targets pretentiousness and the gap between actual and assumed social status.