Judge — August 26, 1916 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Bathing Suit" — Judge Magazine, August 26, 1916 This illustration by James Montgomery Flagg depicts two figures in swimwear standing in water, apparently comparing their bathing suits. The cartoon appears to satirize changing fashion standards for swimwear during the 1910s, when women's bathing costumes were becoming increasingly abbreviated and form-fitting—a source of social controversy and debate. The contrast between the two figures suggests commentary on evolving attitudes toward acceptable beachwear. The woman's more streamlined, shorter suit with horizontal stripes represents modern style, while the man's fuller coverage may represent traditional conventions. The satire likely mocks either prudish resistance to fashion change or the absurdity of the ongoing debate over women's modest beachwear during this period.