Life — December 11, 1890 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page shows a satirical illustration titled "The Average Husband" under the heading "Annoyances" (partially visible as "SOC UISANCES"). The sketch depicts a man in military or formal dress standing surrounded by women in elaborate clothing and hats, appearing to be at some kind of social gathering or reception. The satire targets the "average husband" as a figure besieged by fashionable society women—likely commenting on how husbands were overwhelmed or inconvenienced by their wives' social obligations, shopping habits, or elaborate dress requirements of the era. The crowded, chaotic composition emphasizes the husband's isolation amid demanding female company, a common theme in early 20th-century Life magazine's humor about gender relations and domestic life.