The Wasp — 1878 — page 79: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This multi-panel comic depicts various scenes of urban leisure and entertainment, likely from 1880s-90s America. The page satirizes fashionable society behavior: the top panel shows well-dressed crowds at what appears to be a public gathering; "Ground That" references a scenic overlook or tourist destination "by the fountain." "The Rioter in Motion" mocks mechanical amusement rides or exhibitions. The bottom panels titled "Art Critics" and "Ladies Wear" appear to ridicule social pretension—showing pompous onlookers judging cultural events and fashion-conscious women. The cartoons use exaggerated facial expressions and body language to mock Victorian affectation, class consciousness, and the aspirations of urban leisure culture. The overall tone suggests gentle but pointed criticism of fashionable society's vanities and absurdities.