Life — October 12, 1899 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine, October 12, 1899 The main cartoon, titled "Insatiable," depicts a bearded man in a top hat sitting on gold, labeled with "GOLD" across his chest. A large lion looms menacingly behind him. The caption reads: "The Lion: what's yours is mine, and what's mine is my own." This appears to be commentary on imperial greed and colonial exploitation during the 1890s—likely referencing the Boer War (1899-1902) or broader British imperial expansion. The "lion" symbolizes Britain; the figure represents a British or colonial interest claiming gold resources (possibly South African). The satire mocks the hypocrisy of imperial powers: demanding access to others' wealth while protecting their own, embodying aggressive territorial acquisition and economic domination of the era.