Judge — April 7, 1917 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine cover from April 7, 1917 presents a satirical cartoon by James Montgomery Flagg depicting a couple engaged in reconciliation after a quarrel. The woman holds a bottle (likely cosmetics or perfume) while the man appears to be applying makeup or powder to his face—a reversal of typical gender roles that was meant to be humorous to 1917 audiences. The joke plays on the phrase "make up," which means both cosmetic application and reconciliation after an argument. By showing the man applying makeup, the cartoon mocks masculine vanity or suggests he's being feminized through the reconciliation process. This reflects early 20th-century attitudes about gender and appearance, using physical comedy to illustrate domestic dynamics.