Life — August 7, 1913 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "See America First: A Native Feast in New York" This satirical illustration depicts a lavish indoor banquet scene with numerous well-dressed diners seated at tables laden with abundant food and drink. The title's irony is the key to understanding the satire: "See America First" was a popular early 20th-century tourism slogan encouraging Americans to visit domestic attractions rather than travel abroad. The cartoon likely satirizes wealthy New Yorkers' pretension and excess—depicting an ostentatious "native" feast that mocks the nouveau riche's conspicuous consumption. The ornate interior, numerous servants, and overflowing tables suggest decadence and self-indulgence. By framing this as "native," the artist critiques American materialism and social inequality, contrasting the privileged diners' opulence with broader social realities of the era.