Life, 1911-09-14 · page 20 of 46
Life — September 14, 1911 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. The poem by Arthur Guiterman mocks both the painting's mystique and the obsessive critical commentary surrounding it. **The satire:** The poem suggests the famous portrait is so tired of being endlessly analyzed by critics—debating her smile, eyes, and meaning—that she literally *ran away* with the painting itself, possibly eloping with "a Cardinal, Highwayman, Prince, or—Chauffeur!" **The joke:** Rather than a criminal theft, Guiterman proposes the painting escaped of its own volition from the burden of art-world over-interpretation. He mocks both the painting's romanticized reputation ("the smirk of unspeakable mystery") and the pretentious criticism it attracts, suggesting the so-called masterpiece is actually quite ordinary—"if she were living they'd call her 'a cat.'" The cartoon below illustrates the escape theme, showing figures involved in the painting's disappearance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ay Cl a oe The Mystery of Mona Lisa Poris, August 22—The art world has been thrown into How they have talked of the eyes and the smile of her, consternation by the announcement of the theft of Leonardo Argued how this was her meaning, or that; da Vinci's “ Mona Lisa” from the Louvre.—New York Times. Raved of the wonderful, exquisite style of her! HEN she is gone like her record in history. (If she were living they'd call her “a cat!) . Stolen for ransom or vanished for good! How they'vé refined on the shadows and tints of her, She of the smirk of “unspeakable mystery ee ee Say Heme Asked if her glance was a trifle askew! pesabn the lady’ (bate smisuagersiood: How they have swamped us with joy-killing Please, Mr. Burglar, away with them too! points of her!— How they have flattered sainted her Since Leonardo, the talented sage, Fed her on music (they say) as he painted her Splendid F. Hopkinson Smith of his age! her, worshipped her, Nay, ye Detectives, no robber burglarious, Entered the Lotivre to steal her for pelf ; Sceking for light on the doings nefarious Study the face of the lady herself ! Yes; and the Critics became such a bore to her (Witness her manner of stately hauteur), That she cloped with the picture next door to her— Cardinal, Highwayman, Prince, or—Chauffeur! Arthur Guiterman. indicate the wav the wind is blowing. ‘They have a ludicrous side—but when the dominant medical system succeeds in the accomplishment of its dream of twenty years for a State department or system of medicine, it may be somewhat harder to “ chuckle” over these vagaries. Is it not time that some intelligent, organized protest be made against this wise” foolishness. Respectfully, Otaver W. Tuorxpyxe, M.D. August 14, 1911. Miss Repplier on Customs-House Inflictions Eprror or Lari Six.—The article on the " Customs,” by Miss Repplicr in Lire for August 10, strikes me as the best thing yet said on the subject. Several people have spoken highly of the article to me, and it oc- curs to me that it ought to reach a larger circle even than the readers of Lire. Could it not be reprinted in most of the daily papers? Very truly yours, W. SH. Those Working Babies of Florida Eprtor Lire, Drak Str—My attention has just been called to a from Ernest W. Tyler in your issue of Augus 10, in which he expresses great dis- appointment and displeasure because I hastened to correct an that ap peared in a recent Collier's Weekly and because Collier's was equal- letter ay Sea Git, N. J, 18th August, 1911. issue of ly prompt in making full and dignified correction. He cries: “Are we to put any faith in his future photographs and heartrending stories of the Florida work- ing babies?” We thank Mr. Tyler for volunteering to become the champion of the Gulf coast sea food canning interests and ex- pressing their apology—" We don’t work hard,” for whatever serves to draw public attention to the industry will be helpful in improving future conditions Aside from this, all we care to say at present is that the more Mr. Tyler writes on the subject now the more he will haye to regret when the evidence we have been gathering is laid before the public. Sincerely yours, our babies very Owes R. Lovesoy, General Secretary. w Yorx, August 17, 1911. Any newspaper is welcome print it—Tue Eprtor. The War on Animals Epitor or Lire, Dear Str.—According to the newspa- per reports, the State Board of Health of Kansas has issued an edict that all the cats in the State shall have their whiskers shaved to avoid the transmit- ting of germs. The State Board of Health of Cali- fornia has slaughtered thousands of squirrels on the theory that they are carriers of disease. The Board of Health of a large east- crn city—with supreme arrogance—re- cently considered the advisability of pro- hibiting the owning or harboring of dogs, cats, birds or domestic pets of any kind on the same flimsy theory of germ transmission. These incidents are straws” which My, How stipes! 1 CHAUFFEUR.” “BUT PeRMars 1e’LL YOU GIVE HIM A CHANCE “IMPOSSIBLE, 1S NAME THE CAR SLIPS AND MUST DISCHARGE THIS IMPROVE. 1F 18 SKID comicbooks.co