Life — March 14, 1889 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "In Paris" - Life Magazine, March 14, 1889 This cartoon satirizes the art market's absurdity. An "Enthusiastic Collector" negotiates with an "Art Dealer" over a painting's price. The collector notes the price has risen from 800 to 1,800 francs in just three days—a tripling in value. The dealer's response captures the satire: the painting's worth increases simply because it's now "antique" and "grows older every day." The joke mocks wealthy collectors' illogical reasoning about art valuation. Rather than basing value on artistic merit or craftsmanship, the dealer suggests mere age automatically creates value. This reflects late 19th-century concerns about speculative art markets and nouveau riche collectors willing to pay inflated prices based on artificial scarcity rather than genuine appreciation.