The Wasp — 1880 — page 221: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This engraving by Gabriel Max depicts a woman in classical dress stretching her arm upward in an emotional farewell gesture, surrounded by two wolves or wild dogs in a stone chamber. The image appears to illustrate a dramatic, possibly tragic scene—likely depicting a historical or mythological moment of parting, possibly death or separation. Without additional contextual text from The Wasp identifying the specific subject, the exact satirical or political meaning remains unclear. The classical styling and tragic composition suggest it may reference a historical event, literary work, or contemporary social issue that 19th-century readers would have recognized. The presence in a satirical publication indicates potential commentary, though the precise target of satire cannot be determined from the image alone.