Judge — February 16, 1907 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration by James Montgomery Flagg depicts a woman at a desk dictating to a small cherub or cupid figure, who appears to be writing or transcribing her words. The title "DICTATED" suggests commentary on female authority and voice in professional settings. The cartoon likely satirizes early 20th-century anxieties about women entering the workplace, particularly in secretarial and administrative roles. The reversal—with a woman as the authoritative dictator rather than the typist—may be either celebrating women's growing professional power or mocking it, depending on the magazine's stance. The cherub figure adds whimsy, possibly infantilizing the scenario or suggesting the novelty of female workplace authority during this era.