Life — December 5, 1912 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is primarily a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. The page advertises cigarettes at "20 for 15¢" (a box of 10 packages containing 200 cigarettes for $1.50). The decorative elements—holly sprigs, pine branches, and holiday imagery—indicate this is a **Christmas-themed ad** from Life magazine's holiday issue. The tagline "Distinctively Individual" is the marketing message. The dark rectangular panel in the center appears to contain product information or branding that's too obscured to read clearly in this reproduction. This represents typical early 20th-century advertising when cigarettes were openly promoted without health warnings, often using festive imagery to encourage gift-giving during holidays. The design reflects Art Deco styling popular in that era.