Life — January 25, 1883 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine, January 25, 1883 This is the cover/title page for Life magazine's first volume, number 4. The large illustration features fantastical figures—winged demons or devils—flanking the word "LIFE" displayed prominently in the center. A cityscape with a moon appears in the background. The imagery appears satirical and allegorical rather than referencing a specific political event. The demonic figures likely represent forces of chaos, vice, or social ills that Life magazine claimed to satirize and expose. The theatrical, grotesque style was typical of 19th-century satirical illustration. Published at 1155 Broadway in New York, the magazine cost ten cents per copy and was issued weekly on Thursdays. The copyright holder is listed as J. A. Mitchell.