Judge — May 8, 1920 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a satirical cartoon from *Judge* magazine depicting a scene at what appears to be a music publisher's or composer's office. A woman in an elegant hat and coat stands at a desk examining sheet music, while staff members work in the background among filing cabinets. The caption references "a song by Arthur Whiting" and jokes about obtaining "a whole book of Schubert" in exchange for American composer works. The satire critiques the perceived superiority of European (specifically German) classical composers over American ones—suggesting that even a substantial collection of the master Schubert's work wouldn't be worth trading for American compositions. The humor targets American cultural inferiority complex regarding European art.