Life — December 26, 1912 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Warning to Widows" - Life Magazine Cartoon Analysis This page contains a satirical cartoon and article about prostitution in early 20th-century New York. The top cartoon depicts a woman sighing over a portrait while a man lurks behind her—illustrating the article's dark humor warning widows against displaying their first husband's portrait, as it apparently attracts unwanted male attention. The larger cartoon "They Have Eyes, but They See Not" shows a woman with exaggerated features, accompanied by commentary about street walkers and male exploitation. The article discusses prostitution as a social problem, arguing for regulation rather than prohibition, and criticizing both the exploitation of vulnerable women and the men who profit from it. The satire critiques society's hypocrisy regarding this "necessary evil."