The Wasp — 1877 — page 193: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page from *The Wasp* illustrates various working-class street trades in Victorian America. Each vignette caricatures different vendors and hustlers: - "Knife Grinder" and "Market Lottery Seller" depict petty commerce - "Market St. Cars in the Evening" shows overcrowded public transit - "Transporting a Loaded Barber's Carts to City Prison" appears to satirize barbers or street operators facing legal trouble - "Fishing Boats" and "Steamer Constitution" reference maritime commerce - Military figures at bottom suggest naval or dock-related activities The overall tone mocks lower-income street workers and informal economy participants. The exaggerated facial features and poses reflect the crude caricature style typical of 19th-century satirical journalism, often reflecting period prejudices. The page critiques urban working-class life through ridicule rather than sympathy.