Life — April 4, 1907 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cover depicts three figures wearing gas masks, suggesting concern about air pollution or contamination. The title "LIFE" appears above them in decorative letters. The cartoon likely comments on urban pollution or health hazards in early 1900s America—a period of rapid industrialization. The three figures, dressed formally in Edwardian attire, are holding handkerchiefs to their faces despite already wearing masks, emphasizing the severity of the problem. The stamp on the right indicates this was property of "The Middletown Library" and warns against mutilation or removal. Without additional context, the specific individuals caricatured cannot be identified with certainty, but the satire clearly targets the environmental or health crisis affecting American cities at this time.