Life — December 29, 1887 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine New Year's Number, 1888 This is the cover of Life's New Year's issue for 1888, featuring an illustrated scene rather than political satire. The image shows two figures in a winter setting: a man in formal dress and a woman in an elegant gown with an elaborate hat, positioned near bare trees in what appears to be a snow-covered landscape. The composition and styling suggest a romantic or social scenario typical of Life's satirical commentary on contemporary manners and relationships. Without additional context or text explaining the specific reference, the exact social commentary intended remains unclear, though the elegant dress and winter setting invoke themes of courtship or New Year's social gatherings common to the era's satire.