Life — October 31, 1907 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts three grotesquely caricatured figures labeled "Doing New York," a phrase referring to tourists experiencing the city's attractions. The central figure wears a sign reading "Fresh from the Tunnel" (likely the recently completed Hudson River Tunnel, opened in 1908), suggesting newly arrived visitors. The exaggerated facial features and expressions mock unsophisticated tourists attempting to navigate New York's sophisticated urban culture. The elaborate decorative border on the left side is characteristic of Life magazine's design aesthetic. The satire targets the contrast between tourists' earnest attempts at "doing" (experiencing) New York versus their lack of urban sophistication—a common theme in early 20th-century American humor about the perceived clash between provincial visitors and cosmopolitan city culture.