The Wasp, 1879 · page 227 of 486
The Wasp — 1879 — page 227: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a satirical fashion illustration page from *The Wasp*, showing various figures in exaggerated poses and clothing styles. The page mocks Victorian-era fashion through caricature—depicting men and women in absurd positions and impractical garments typical of the period. The satire likely targets: - **Women's restrictive clothing**: The tight corsets, elaborate skirts, and bustles that limited mobility - **Fashion absurdity**: The impractical proportions and poses shown suggest how ridiculous fashionable dress had become - **Social pretension**: The theatrical stances and exaggerated poses mock those obsessed with fashionable appearance Without visible captions being clearly legible in the OCR, the specific identities of individual figures remain unclear. The humor relies on visual exaggeration rather than topical political references.