The Wasp — July 17, 1880 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Welcome, Big Chief!" — The Wasp, July 17, 1880 This cartoon depicts a grotesquely caricatured Native American figure (labeled with horns and wild hair) being offered a beer stein by a figure labeled "California." The satire appears to address the arrival or reception of a notable person in San Francisco, using dehumanizing Native American imagery common to 1880s American political humor. The "Big Chief" title suggests mockery of either a political leader or visiting dignitary being received in California. The exaggerated, bestial depiction reflects the deeply racist visual conventions of period satirical publications. Without additional context, the specific target remains unclear, though the cartoon demonstrates how Native American caricature served as shorthand for ridicule in contemporary political discourse.