Life, 1901-08-22 · page 1 of 20
Life — August 22, 1901 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Cover, August 22, 1901 This is the cover of Life magazine (Volume XXXVIII, Number 981), featuring elaborate Art Nouveau decorative typography spelling "LIFE" with fantastical creatures and cherubs integrated into the letters. The main cartoon below depicts a classical female figure (likely representing a mythological or allegorical personification) surrounded by serpents, with a sailing ship in the background. The caption reads "COME ON!" The ornate left border contains a vertical strip of small circular vignettes showing various satirical scenes—typical of Life's format for social commentary. Without additional context about 1901 events, the specific satirical meaning remains unclear, though the image suggests commentary on contemporary social or political issues through classical allegory.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| VOLUME XXXVIIL. NEW YORK, AUGUST 22, 1901. NUMBER 981, Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Ciass Mail Matter. Copyright, 190, by Lrg PUBLISHING CoMPanY. engyjernQneis COME ON! comicbooks.com