Judge — April 10, 1920 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Divine Fire" - Judge Magazine, April 10, 1920 This illustration by Walter DeMaris depicts a solitary figure hunched over a desk by candlelight in a sparse, dimly-lit room, surrounded by scattered papers and a bottle. The title "The Divine Fire" sarcastically references artistic inspiration or creative genius. The cartoon appears to criticize impoverished or struggling writers/artists of the era—those pursuing their craft under difficult conditions with minimal resources. The "divine fire" of creative inspiration is undercut by the harsh reality of poverty: bare walls, meager lighting, and apparent desperation. This likely comments on the romanticization of the starving artist versus the actual hardship such figures endured in post-WWI America, offering social commentary on economic inequality and the cost of artistic ambition.