The Wasp — 1881 — page 175: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains **no political cartoon**. Instead, it features two articles: 1. **"The Four Bullwhackers of Bitter Creek"** — a humorous Western story about rough teamsters and their crude behavior, apparently mocking frontier types. 2. **"WASP RECIPES: How to Become an Art Critic"** — satire instructing readers how to patronize artists and critique art while knowing nothing about it. The piece mocks pretentious art criticism by offering absurdly simple formulas: use vague French phrases, make condescending remarks about "poor artists," and speak with unearned authority. The recipes section also contains a small advertisement section at bottom. The satire targets **affectation in art criticism** and the gap between genuine knowledge and performative expertise—a common target of satirical magazines of this era.