Life — January 18, 1900 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "That Cargo of Girls to Virginia" This satirical cartoon from Life magazine depicts a historical event—likely referencing the early colonial period when shiploads of women were sent from England to Virginia to establish families in the settlement. The sign held by the two figures appears to advertise or announce details of this "cargo." The cartoon satirizes this practice by depicting the women as literal cargo being transported and distributed, treating human settlement as a commercial transaction. The chaotic scene with numerous figures suggests disorder or the crude nature of this colonial enterprise. The satire critiques both the commodification of women and the somewhat absurd, rough-and-tumble approach to establishing colonial settlements. The humor derives from depicting a serious historical matter in exaggerated, darkly comic terms typical of Life magazine's editorial cartooning style.