The Wasp — 1894 — page 103: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a crowded social scene titled "NO ROOM," showing an elegantly dressed woman being told she cannot enter a venue. The accompanying dialogue reveals the satire: a "Corpulent Gent" tells a refined lady she cannot stand up in the space because he himself cannot move—he's too large. When she suggests sitting in his lap instead, he protests that it's "pretty full already." The joke targets obesity and selfishness: a portly man has monopolized so much space that he prevents others from even basic accommodation. It's a social critique of gluttony and inconsiderate behavior masquerading as a witty exchange. The contrast between the woman's refinement and the man's crude physical excess emphasizes the satire's class dimensions.