Life — February 20, 1908 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis The page's header image, captioned "IF WASHINGTON CROSSED THE DELAWARE TO-DAY," depicts a modern recreation of Emanuel Leutze's famous 1851 painting of George Washington's Revolutionary War crossing. However, this version shows the boat crowded with what appear to be modern figures and industrial elements, satirizing contemporary American life. The three accompanying text sections—"The Household," "Nothing happens that the household doesn't get its share of," and "A Nasty Thought"—critique early 20th-century American materialism and economic anxiety. They mock how households are affected by market fluctuations, epidemics, and wars, suggesting ordinary Americans feel powerless against larger forces. The satire implies that Washington's heroic sacrifice contrasts sharply with modern Americans' preoccupation with money and self-interest.