Life, 1901-12-02 · page 44 of 44
Life — December 2, 1901 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a Kodak Christmas advertisement, not a political cartoon. It promotes Kodak cameras and Brownie cameras as gift suggestions for the holiday season. The ad features a elegantly dressed woman in early 1900s attire with an elaborate hat, positioned within a decorative border of holly leaves. The text emphasizes how photography captures cherished family moments—children, home visits, sleighing parties, and portraits of friends—suggesting that these memories become increasingly precious over time. The message positions Kodak products as essential for preserving life's meaningful occasions. Pricing ranges from $1 Brownies to $75 professional models, making photography accessible across different budgets. This represents early consumer advertising targeting middle-class households during the emerging snapshot culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Amid the festivities of Christmas-tide one often finds the greatest charm of picture taking. The children, the children’s tree, the visit at the old home, the flash-light at an evening gathering, the merry sleighing party, the home portraits of one’s friends—all these offer subjects that have a personal interest, that one cherishes more highly as the years go by. “KODAK” Stands for all that is Best in Photography. KODAKS, $5.00 to $75.00. BROWNIE CAMERAS, $1 and $2, EASTMAN KODAK CO. , Rochester, N.Y.