Judge — October 26, 1912 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Judge - "Ambition" This cartoon satirizes class aspiration and social climbing. The illustration shows a woman gazing at a fashionable hat in a shop window labeled "HAIR GOODS" and "ORDE" (likely "Ordered"). A well-dressed woman inside the shop appears to be a saleswoman or proprietor, while a working-class figure stands outside looking in. The title "AMBITION" suggests the satire targets someone's desire to acquire luxury goods beyond their social station. The contrast between the elegantly dressed shopkeeper and the figure outside critiques either frivolous consumer desire or the unrealistic aspirations of the working poor. The artwork is credited to R.M. Brinkerhoff, a known Judge cartoonist. This reflects Gilded Age anxieties about consumption, class boundaries, and social mobility through material goods.