The Wasp — 1879 — page 236: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes what appears to be a business or labor dispute, likely involving fisheries or maritime trade. A large, corpulent figure in Renaissance-style costume (a "Fisherman Luck" character based on the caption) sits enthroned, surrounded by smaller figures and documents labeled with financial figures and "Trade Mark." The caption reads: "Fair Play is a jewel—Two for you two, and two for me too," suggesting the figure is unfairly dividing profits or resources among workers or partners. The visual composition—with the central figure oversized and ornate while others remain diminished—emphasizes power imbalance and exploitation. The Renaissance costume may reference historical precedent or mock the figure's pretensions to authority. This appears to critique unequal labor distribution or wages in 19th-century San Francisco commerce.