The fare sex
1910
Rooted in a satirical take on realism, this 1910 illustration from *Puck* magazine features a weary subway conductor facing off against three elaborately dressed women—a clever visual pun on the phrase 'the fair sex.' The ladies, sporting massive feathered hats and fur stoles typical of the Edwardian era, are fumbling with their purses and a box of chocolates, seemingly taking their sweet time to pay. The conductor, labeled number 347, wears an expression of pure exhaustion as he waits, highlighting the humorous clash between public transit workers and the fashionable elite. Gordon Grant captures the daily grind of urban life with a sharp, witty touch.