Life, 1897-09-02 · page 11 of 20
Life — September 2, 1897 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This is a pen-and-ink illustration depicting a rural landscape with a split-rail fence and overgrown grassland. The artistic style uses cross-hatching for texture and depth. The caption reads "GO DOWN UPON YOUR WRATH" with a citation to "Ephesians IV., 26" — a biblical reference to the passage about anger and sin. The cartoon appears to be a visual meditation on the biblical concept rather than a specific political satire. The desolate rural scene—with its weathered fence and wild, unkempt vegetation—suggests spiritual desolation or the aftermath of destructive emotion. The artistic technique emphasizes decay and disorder, reinforcing the moral lesson about controlling wrath. Without additional context or identifying figures, this reads as a general moral/religious commentary rather than commentary on specific contemporary events or figures.