Life — November 13, 1913 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page showcases work by illustrator Harrison Fisher, titled "Popular Illustrators at Work." The illustration depicts a fantastical retail or display environment where a giant female figure dominates the composition, wearing what appears to be a crown or headpiece. The scene includes labeled anatomical features (Eyes, Eyebrows, Lips, Nose, Ears, etc.) and a sign advertising "Special Today Blondes $3.50 [per?]," suggesting satirical commentary on the commercialization and objectification of women, particularly blonde women, as consumer commodities. Male figures in the scene appear to be shopping or examining the display, treating the woman as merchandise. This reflects early 20th-century satirical critique of beauty standards and the reduction of women to purchasable physical attributes—a commentary on both advertising culture and gender relations of that era.