Life — October 23, 1913 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "When Dreams Come True" by Rodney Thomson This *Life* magazine cover illustrates a figure in ornate 18th-century aristocratic dress (tricorn hat, embroidered coat) standing giant-like over a cityscape, holding what appears to be a monkey or small creature on a leash. The caption "When Dreams Come True" suggests satire about ambition or delusion. The elaborate costume and exaggerated scale likely mock pretensions to power or grandeur. The monkey may represent foolishness or base nature accompanying the figure's inflated ambitions. The composition—a pompous character looming over civilization—suggests commentary on ego, tyranny, or the danger of unchecked vanity. Without additional context about the publication date, the specific target remains unclear, though the satire targets human folly and inflated self-importance.