Life — May 2, 1912 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This editorial cartoon depicts various hands engaged in different activities of power and influence: wielding weapons, holding money and documents, controlling media (newspapers), conducting orchestras, making toasts, and manipulating objects. The title sarcastically suggests these hands "rule the world." The satire critiques how different forces—military power, financial interests, political authority, media control, and social influence—actually govern society rather than democratic ideals or public welfare. Each vignette represents a different sphere of world power. The cartoon's message is that true control lies with these shadowy institutional forces rather than with the people themselves, presenting a cynical view of who actually holds authority in the world.