Judge — February 25, 1911 — page 24: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer advertisement rather than political satire. The image shows a giant hand holding a bottle of Pabst beer above an aerial view of what appears to be the Milwaukee brewery. The ad uses the visual metaphor of a massive hand presenting the product to emphasize Pabst's scale and importance as a brewer. The text highlights the "Blue Ribbon" trademark as a guarantee of quality—"purity, sparkle, delightful flavor and delicate smoothness." The emphasis on "Made and bottled only by Pabst at Milwaukee" stresses authenticity and local production. This represents typical early-20th-century advertising strategy: using dramatic imagery and brand assurance to market beer during the pre-Prohibition era.