Life — January 27, 1898 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Anthony Comstock Portrait This page from *Life* magazine (page 69) features a detailed engraved portrait of **Anthony Comstock**, identified by the caption below the image. Comstock was a prominent American moral crusader and anti-obscenity activist who founded the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice. The portrait emphasizes his stern, bearded appearance and serious expression, which reflects his public image as an uncompromising enforcer of Victorian morality. Given *Life*'s satirical nature, this portrait likely accompanied commentary critiquing Comstock's aggressive censorship campaigns and his influence on American culture during the late 19th century. The dignified rendering contrasts ironically with *Life*'s typically mocking editorial stance toward such figures.