Life, 1911-07-27 · page 40 of 40
Life — July 27, 1911 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **full-page advertisement**, not a satirical cartoon. It advertises Mennen's Borated Talcum Toilet Powder from the Gerhard Mennen Company (Newark, N.J.). The ad features two women in an Art Nouveau-style decorative frame, appearing refined and fashionable, representing the product's appeal to beauty-conscious consumers. A portrait of what appears to be company founder Gerhard Mennen is included as a trust-building device. The advertisement's main claim—that Mennen's powder protects skin while warning against "over-medicated powders"—reflects early 20th-century beauty marketing. The "sample box 4 cents" offer was typical period advertising strategy. There is **no satirical content** visible; this is straightforward commercial promotion appearing in *Life* magazine's advertising pages.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“MENNEN’S \ taccum TOILET POWDER The Guardian of a Good Complexion, protects the skin from wind and sun, keeping it soft and velvety. It keeps the skin cool and is a positive relief for all skin irritations. Beware of over-medicated powders, which only tend to increase the irritation and add discomfort. SAMPLE BOX 4 CENTS, STAMPS Gerhard Mennen Co. f 86 Orange Street Newark, N. J. comicbookMe xu