Judge — April 15, 1911 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Last of Lent" — Judge Magazine, April 15, 1911 This illustration depicts a woman in fashionable Edwardian dress and a large feathered hat, appearing to indulge in a lavish meal—likely meat or rich food. The caption "The Last of Lent" is the satire's key. Lent, the Christian pre-Easter period of fasting and self-denial, traditionally forbade meat consumption on certain days. The cartoon satirizes the hypocrisy of wealthy society women who observed Lenten restrictions superficially for religious appearance, then immediately abandoned restraint once the period ended. The woman's elaborate hat, fine clothing, and eager consumption suggest she represents privileged Americans who treated religious observance as a social formality rather than genuine spiritual discipline. The satire mocks both hollow piety and excessive materialism among the upper class.