Life — February 8, 1883 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine Cover, February 8, 1883 This is the cover of *Life* magazine's first volume, issue 6. The central image features the magazine's title "LIFE" in large ornamental letters, flanked by elaborate allegorical engravings. On the left appears a classical scene with cherubs and a cityscape; on the right, a winged figure (likely representing fate or fortune) presides over a landscape. The artwork is decorative rather than explicitly political. Below, the publication details indicate *Life* was issued weekly at ten cents per copy and published at 1155 Broadway in New York. The ornate Victorian-style illustrations and design reflect the aesthetic conventions of 1880s American periodicals, emphasizing the magazine's literary and artistic aspirations.