Life, 1895-04-04 · page 8 of 18
Life — April 4, 1895 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 216 This page contains two satirical pieces: **"An Imperfect Invention"** by Harry Romaine mocks the telephone's limitations—specifically that one cannot kiss through it, a humorous complaint about the technology's inability to convey physical intimacy. **"Impressions of Impressionists"** is a dialogue mocking avant-garde Impressionist art being shown at the Society of American Artists. The satire critiques Impressionism as deliberately ugly, harsh, and unnatural—"chalky" and "depressing." The speakers mock both the artists (lacking proper guidance) and the works themselves, which apparently sold despite their poor quality. The joke ridicules what the author sees as pretentious, talentless modern art gaining acceptance and purchase. The accompanying illustration, "The Wonders of America: The Three Sisters," appears decorative rather than directly tied to the text's satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
216 AN Ss" alls me up ; and Jimmy smiles, For—** A lady wants you, sir!" And then across a dozen miles I stand and talk with her, IMPERFECT INVENTION. Her laugh has just its clear sweet ring, Her voice its natural tone, But, hang it all! I miss one thing— I can’t be kissed by telephone ! Harry Romaine, IMPRESSIONS OF IMPRESSIONISTS. SHOW BY THE AMERICAN ART AT THE SOCIETY OF HE; HE: be funny. SHE: But how chalky, and harsh, and unnatural ! He: That is what they try for. No self- respecting impressionist would paint in any orper way. G SHE: Really? or guardia is Yes, but they don’t believe them. Those who differ are lacking in artistic sense. SHE: How rather hard on the public. HE ing. SHE: HE Aren't they funny ? Yes. Impressionists are apt to But have they no parents ns to set them right? amusing And yet it is The results are certainly depress- Who buys such things? Oh, nobody buys them ! SHE: Then how do the poor things live ? He: By scraping the pea soup, canned asparagus and bad eggs from the surface of their unsold paintings. But look at this one. What a skilful discord in streaks of purple, emerald, green, and yellow! SHE: One HE: That is probably why it occu- almost hear it! Yes, Tue Turee THE WONDERS OF AMERICA SISTERS. THE HIGHEST PEAKS IN THE GREEN MOUNTAINS. pies a place of honor and has taken a prize. SHE: Well, I declare! And what does it represent ? He: A landscape, I fancy. SHE: Do you think so? It seems so faint and sick with all its pastiness. . . HE: That special combination of qualities is the pride of the school. SHE: Well, | must say I don't see how an educated painter can find pleasure in producing this stuff He: He can’t. a man who really knows how to paint becomes an impressionist. It is the short cut to fame for the men who are doubtful about get- ting there any other w It is very rare SHE: This show has done me good in making me grate- ful that the Creator is not an impressionist. HE: If He were it would be only the color-blind who could live out of doors. I" is a meteorological fact, weather we believe it or no, that many a reigning sovereign is constitution- ally dry. HAT “music hath charms to soothe the breast” is doubtless the reason African explorers usually go in bands. savage comicbooks.com