Life — February 25, 1897 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a single cartoon from *Life* magazine (page 150) depicting a social scene in what appears to be a public park. The caption reads: "Mr. Fattmacher: She's looking right at me now. 'Go along—she's only guessing at your weight.'" The satire targets a common social awkwardness: a heavyset man (Mr. Fattmacher) is self-conscious about his weight, imagining that a woman observing him is judging his appearance. His companion attempts to reassure him by suggesting she's merely guessing, implying his weight is so obviously excessive that precision is unnecessary—a cruel joke at his expense. The humor derives from the man's vanity and insecurity, the companion's backhanded "reassurance," and the period's casual mockery of physical appearance.