The Wasp — 1880 — page 105: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The cartoon depicts a pig being struck or kicked by a man in formal dress (top hat and coat), with the pig appearing distressed. The caption "CROPS AND STOCKS" suggests this is political-economic satire. Based on the accompanying article text discussing agricultural conditions, harvest prospects, and financial speculation, this appears to satirize the relationship between farmers and financial speculators or brokers. The pig—a common symbol for rural/agricultural interests—is being mistreated by the formally-dressed figure representing urban financial interests or Wall Street types. The satire critiques how agricultural producers are exploited or harmed by stock market manipulation and speculation, particularly regarding commodity prices and farming wealth. This reflects late-19th-century agrarian anxieties about economic fairness.