The Wasp — 1879 — page 355: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is not a political cartoon but rather a religious illustration page from *The Wasp*. The ornate decorative border frames a portrait of Jesus Christ wearing a crown of thorns, positioned above the text of a Christmas nativity passage. The page reproduces poetry describing the Nativity scene—angels announcing Christ's birth to shepherds, the "Glory to God" proclamation, and heavenly hosts. The elaborate Victorian-era artistic border, featuring cherubs and religious imagery, frames the sacred content. This appears to be a special Christmas or religious issue of the satirical magazine, presenting reverent Christian material rather than satire. The juxtaposition of *The Wasp's* typically irreverent satirical mission with this devotional content is itself notable, though the specific editorial intent remains unclear from the page alone.