Life — August 2, 1883 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine Cover Analysis **August 2, 1883 | Volume II, Number 31** This is the cover/title page of *Life*, a satirical weekly costing ten cents. The elaborate illustration depicts a fantastical, allegorical scene with classical and mythological elements—cherubs, angels, a rising sun, and ornate decorative flourishes surrounding the large "LIFE" text. The imagery appears celebratory rather than political, using the magazine's standard artistic style of elaborate engraving. Without visible text identifying specific figures or events, the exact satirical target remains unclear. The design likely advertises the magazine's general satirical content rather than commenting on a particular political moment. Published at the Life Office, 1155 Broadway, New York.