Judge — June 4, 1921 — page 36: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a single-panel cartoon satirizing skepticism toward advertising signs. The scene shows a gas station or car dealership with a large "KEEP SMILING WITH KELLYS" sign overhead. A man (presumably "Cuthbert") stands among several parked cars while another figure questions his disbelief in signs. The joke's irony is visual: despite claiming not to believe in signs' persuasive power, Cuthbert is positioned directly beneath prominent advertising, suggesting signs work whether people consciously acknowledge it or not. This reflects early 20th-century concerns about advertising's psychological influence on consumers—a satirical jab at those who deny advertising affects them while being surrounded by commercial messaging.