Life — February 11, 1886 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a political cartoon depicting demons or devils in a hellish cave setting, each holding signs with what appears to be policy positions or political statements. The figures are caricatured in an exaggerated, grotesque style typical of early 20th-century satirical illustration. The cartoon appears to criticize political positions or proposals—likely related to infrastructure or public policy, given the partially visible text mentioning "PAVEMENT" at the bottom. The demons holding scrolls/signs suggest the cartoonist views these policies as infernal or morally corrupt. However, without clearer legibility of the specific text on the signs or a visible publication date, I cannot definitively identify which political figures or exact policies are being satirized. The style and technique suggest this is from Life magazine's heyday of political satire, but the specific context remains unclear from this image alone.