Judge — June 24, 1916 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Curtain of Fire" This June 1916 Judge magazine cartoon depicts five women in various bathing costumes posed against a wavy line suggesting water or a beach. The title "A Curtain of Fire" appears to satirize women's swimwear of the era—specifically the contrast between modest, fully-covering swimming attire and more revealing modern designs. The cartoon likely comments on the heated social debate of the 1910s about appropriate female bathing costumes. Conservative society viewed shorter, less concealing swimwear as scandalous, while progressives advocated more practical, less restrictive designs. The "fire" reference likely suggests the controversy ignited by evolving swimwear standards, with different costume styles representing the generational and moral battle over women's bodies and fashion modernity.