Life — February 9, 1911 — page 22: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon titled "Frequently" with the caption "What We Want, We Can't Have, and What We Can Have..." The cartoon depicts three figures in a progression: An older man on his knees pleading with a woman in the center, who stands between him and a well-dressed younger man on the right holding flowers. The satire comments on romantic desire and social class or desirability. The implication is that the woman desires the attractive, affluent younger man (who has flowers to offer), while the older man's pleas go unheeded. The cartoon cynically suggests that what people want romantically is often unattainable, while what's actually available to them may be unwanted—a commentary on the frustrations of romantic pursuit and the role of wealth or attractiveness in determining romantic outcomes.