Life — January 2, 1913 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily a **product advertisement** for Mennen's Shaving Cream, not a political cartoon or satire. The advertisement uses playing cards—Jacks and Kings from a "Whist or Poker Deck"—arranged in a fan formation with one card showing a question mark. The copy asks readers if they can identify the beards and mustaches worn by these card figures, implying subtle styling differences. The advertisement's strategy: pose this as a clever puzzle, then pivot to promoting Mennen's Shaving Cream as the solution for maintaining any beard style. The appeal emphasizes practical benefits—no skin irritation, quality lather, and cleanliness through tube packaging—targeting male grooming concerns of the era. This represents early 20th-century advertising using visual puzzles and masculine imagery to market toiletries.