Life — August 20, 1885 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Our Sea Serpent" This appears to be a satirical illustration from *Life* magazine depicting a sea serpent—a legendary creature that periodically captured public imagination. The title "Our Sea Serpent" suggests this is commentary on contemporary discussions or sightings of the mythical beast. The detailed engraving shows a fantastical, spiky creature emerging from turbulent waters, rendered in the dramatic style typical of 19th-century illustration. The satire likely mocks either: 1. **Credulous public belief** in sea serpent sightings despite lack of scientific evidence 2. **Sensationalist newspaper coverage** that promoted unverified monster claims 3. **A specific recent "sighting"** that had captured media attention Without clearer OCR text or dating, the exact contemporary reference remains unclear, but the cartoon ridicules public gullibility regarding pseudoscientific phenomena—a recurring *Life* magazine theme.