The Wasp, 1879-12-20 · page 10 of 18
The Wasp — December 20, 1879 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis This satirical cartoon depicts a giant frog menacing the U.S. Capitol building. A man with binoculars stands on the Capitol steps, apparently observing or warning about the threat. The frog dominates the left side, rendered in exaggerated detail with prominent eyes and feet. The cartoon likely represents a political threat or danger to Congress—possibly corruption, foreign interference, or a specific political figure or movement depicted as monstrous and predatory. The frog's grotesque appearance suggests something alien or repulsive threatening American democracy. Without visible text identifying the specific frog or context, the exact reference remains unclear—this could target a particular scandal, political party, or public figure of The Wasp's era, but I cannot definitively state which without additional documentation.