Life, 1909-12-02 · page 2 of 80
Life — December 2, 1909 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **commercial advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes Baldwin pianos to wealthy, cultured consumers. The illustration shows an elegantly dressed woman at a Baldwin piano, gazing at a fashion illustration on the wall—a visual pun suggesting that pianos, like fine clothing, are markers of refined taste and status. The accompanying text quotes Henry Krehbiel (a real music critic) praising the Baldwin's tonal quality, comparing it to legendary painters like Sorolla and Titian. The tagline "One touch of genius makes the two arts kin" links piano-playing to visual art, positioning piano ownership as a sign of cultural sophistication. The advertisement targets the "cultured public" and "artist[s]," emphasizing that Baldwin pianos were instruments for the wealthy elite, not ordinary households.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“One touch of genius makes the two arts kin” In the tone of a great instrument the personality of the maker is present as vividly as the soul of Sorolla or Titian or John Sargent is present in a canvas. It is this rare quality, allied with an independent command of material resources, that has gained for The Baldwin Piano the ear of the cultured public, the allegiance of the artist and ¢he greatest? of great awards. Of a de Pachmann interpretation of the Chopin Mazourkas on the Baldwin Piano Mr. Henry Krehbiel wrote— “A tone that seems to overflow the keyboard ; yet [ have heard tt sink loa whisper.” If YOU have not already heard the Baldwin Piano you may very conveniently do so. Baldwin salesrooms are in every American city of importance. A request to the nearest agent will bring the catalogue and full details. vo ee Che Baldaain Company ss... 1013 Olive Street. 310 Sutter Street Ind. Louisville 142 W. Fourth Street Boston Denver 18) aSt. 425 S. Fourth Ave. CINCINNATI 40 Huntington Ave. 1626 California St. comicbooks.com