Life — January 15, 1903 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a satirical illustration titled "In Saecula Saeculorum" (Latin: "forever and ever"). The cartoon depicts a woman speaking to a winged cupid or cherub figure. The caption reads: "I was almost afraid to call on you this century. I thought you had outworn me" / "Nonsense! I'm always 'at home'—to you." The satire appears to target romantic love and courtship as eternally persistent themes across centuries. Despite changing times and social conditions, the illustration suggests that romantic attraction and pursuit remain constant human behaviors—cupid is always available and ready to inspire love, regardless of how much the world changes. The "at home" phrasing suggests availability and accessibility, making a gentle joke about love's timeless nature in human affairs.