Judge — September 7, 1912 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon mocks the proliferation of outdoor advertising by imagining famous landmarks and monuments defaced with product advertisements. The Statue of Liberty advertises a product (unclear which), while a classical obelisk bears a "Postholes for Breakfast" ad. Gibraltar's rock promotes "Tom Cat Suspenders," a domed building advertises "Suckers Vacuum Cleaner," and other monuments feature ads for "Fleam's Skin Food," "Slopolio for Scouring," and other goods. The cartoon's central question—posed sarcastically in the caption—critiques the aggressive expansion of commercial advertising into public spaces and natural landmarks. Rather than preserving these iconic sites, the illustration suggests advertisers would commercialize anything for profit, turning cultural treasures into billboards. This reflects turn-of-the-century anxieties about unchecked commercialism.