The Wasp — 1894 — page 23: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical poem mocks artist **Peter Frederick Robinson**, who submitted a painting to an art competition judged by **Director-General de Young** (likely referring to M. H. de Young, co-founder of the San Francisco Chronicle). The satire suggests Robinson's painting was rejected despite his prominence, with each judge finding fault. The poem implies hypocrisy: Robinson displayed empty frames at a fair to gain attention, then when his actual work was judged fairly, it failed. The moral is clear—**legitimate artistic merit matters more than publicity stunts or empty pretense**. The title "The Dealer" suggests Robinson was more concerned with commercialism than genuine artistic achievement, a common target of satirical publications of this era.