Life — March 27, 1890 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is an advertisement or feature for sporting wear, illustrated by someone named Reen. The central image shows a large peacock or similar bird wearing fashionable clothing, surrounded by five women in various sporting outfits from what appears to be the late 19th or early 20th century. The women display different athletic pursuits: tennis, horseback riding, and fishing are suggested by their poses and equipment. The satire appears to target the tension between Victorian femininity and women's growing participation in sports—the elegantly dressed figures are styled fashionably despite engaging in active pursuits. The proud peacock at the center may suggest vanity or peacockery in sporting fashion design itself, though the exact satirical point remains somewhat unclear without additional context.