Life, 1892-02-25 · page 9 of 16
Life — February 25, 1892 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Cupid's Auction" by Harry Romaine This satirical illustration depicts Cupid (the winged cherub of love) conducting an auction of romantic "love" in a formal garden setting. A fashionable woman in Edwardian dress appears to be the auctioneer or protagonist, while multiple cupids act as the merchandise or bidders. The poem accompanying the image plays on the commercialization of romance and sentiment—treating love as a commodity to be bought and sold at different price points ("Love for a day," "Love for a week," "Love for a year"). The satire mocks both the transactional nature of romantic relationships in society and the ephemeral quality of modern love, suggesting that affection has become standardized and purchasable rather than genuine or eternal. The tone is lighthearted social commentary on turn-of-the-century courtship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CUPID'S AUCTION. sGUPID & COMPANY will sell, This month of February, A stock of Loves, selected well. Cupid & Company will sell To man and maid ; to beau and belle, Loves bright and fresh and merry— Cupid & Company will sell, tyth of February. This is Cupid's auction sale, * Maidens rosy ! Lovers pale ! All attend ;” I hear him cry “+ Now's the time to price and buy ! He a in short and gay ; Love for a day! Love fora day ! Take your choice ; pethaps you seck, fora year! Bid on this ; the price is high ! Love eternal! Mt will not die? Harry Romaine. comicbooks.com