Life, 1883-11-15 · page 1 of 16
Life — November 15, 1883 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine, November 1883 - "Mural Painting" This satirical cartoon depicts a "mural painting" supposedly discovered in "Ancient Nu Yok" (New York). The artwork parodies archaeological discoveries by presenting a farcical "temple" scene with Egyptian-style imagery. The main figure appears to be a caricatured military or political leader wearing ornate dress, gesturing dramatically. Text labels include "Boys Pant," "Esmola," and references to a "Goddess Hi Aht" and "Arch-Prophet Tches No Lah." The caption mentions commemoration of an "important sale" or "sell." The satire likely mocks contemporary archaeological claims, pretentious art exhibitions, or political figures of the era through mock-ancient framing. Without clearer identification of the specific political references or individuals caricatured, the precise target remains unclear, though the absurdist "discovery" format suggests commentary on either fraudulent antiquities or inflated public spectacles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
—, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 15, 1883. NUMBER 46. Ratered at New York Poet Office as Seoend-Cias Mall Matter. MURAL PAINTING. DiscOVERED IN THE ANCIENT CITY OF Nu YOK, AMONG THE RUINS OF A TEMPLE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN ERECTED TO THE GODDESS Hi AHT, BY THE ARCH-PROPHET TCHES No LAH, DURING THE REIGN or TCHESTAH I, SURNAMED THE PFISCHER OR DINAH OwT. IT IS BELIEVED TO COMMEMORATE SOME IMPORTANT SALE OR “SELL.” comicbooks.com