Life — November 21, 1907 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features a satirical cartoon labeled "SEEING THE 400," referencing New York's social elite—the "400" families considered part of high society (a concept popularized in the Gilded Age). The cartoon depicts an elaborate social spectacle at Madison Square Garden, with crowds of well-dressed attendees. The imagery appears to mock the pretentiousness and spectacle of high-society events, with exaggerated illustrations of fashionable people engaged in social display. The artistic style and advertising visible on the left margin suggest this is from Life's heyday as a satirical weekly magazine. The cartoon's focus on mocking the affectations of wealthy New Yorkers was typical of Life's editorial approach—using humor to critique class pretension and social hierarchy. Without a visible date, the specific event referenced remains unclear, though the "400" theme was evergreen for satirists of that era.