Life — June 19, 1913 — page 13: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes the social hypocrisy surrounding public recreation and leisure activities. The crowded scene depicts well-dressed Victorians engaged in various pastimes—some standing, some seated—in what appears to be a public garden or park setting, with a gazebo visible in the background. The title's question suggests the cartoon critiques whether leisure activities are genuinely public and wholesome ("in the open") or involve hidden motives and private arrangements ("under cover"). The densely packed composition and the mix of social interaction implies commentary on class pretense, courtship rituals, or the gap between public propriety and private behavior during this era. The signature appears to read "Cesare" or similar.