Judge — November 6, 1926 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page mocks the contrast between products' claimed virtues and their actual associations. The title "Purity in Advertising" is ironic—each product advertisement pairs respectable branding with suggestive or absurd imagery. For example, "Lionel Strongfort" (likely a real bodybuilder/fitness brand) appears alongside "Venus Pencil" and "Famous Feet," while products like "Onyx Hosiery" and "Boston Garter" (legwear brands) feature leg imagery. "Munsing Wear," "White Rock Water," and "Blue-jay" shoes complete the collection. The cartoon criticizes how turn-of-the-century advertisers used euphemisms and suggestive illustrations—particularly featuring women's bodies and legs—to sell mundane products, all while maintaining a veneer of respectability. The satire exposes the gap between advertising's claimed "purity" and its actually manipulative, often sexually suggestive tactics.