Judge — May 24, 1919 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a humorous cartoon from Judge magazine (May 24, 1919) titled "Dog Store," drawn by Walter De Maris. The joke plays on a dog's confusion: a large dog stands on hind legs at a shop counter, examining smaller dogs displayed in the window as merchandise. The caption reads "Bruno—It's Strange; I Thought This Was a Dog Store!" The satire targets the commodification of animals—treating dogs as mere retail products rather than living creatures. The cartoon anthropomorphizes the dog character "Bruno," giving him human expectations and rational disappointment. The humor derives from the absurdist premise of a dog shopping for other dogs, while the underlying message critiques the era's pet trade and the casual commercialization of animals. This reflects Progressive Era concerns about animal welfare and consumer culture.