Judge — December 23, 1911 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Smokeless Powder" - Christmas Advertisement This is a Christmas advertisement for smokeless powder, a relatively new propellant technology in the late 19th/early 20th century. The image shows an elegant woman applying cosmetic powder to her face, using a hand mirror and powder puff. The visual pun plays on "smokeless powder" — the woman's cosmetic powder produces no smoke, unlike traditional gunpowder formulations. The decorative "CHRISTMAS" header with heart motif frames this as holiday advertising. The artist signature appears to be "F. Earl E. Hasty." This represents Judge magazine's blend of commercial advertising with visual wordplay—a common marketing strategy of the era that appealed to readers through clever illustration rather than direct product description.