Life — February 18, 1915 — page 27: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration references the famous 1859 painting by French artist Jean-François Millet, depicting a peasant laborer bent over his work. The title became iconic shorthand for working-class struggle and exploitation. The silhouetted figures appear to show two people in conflict or confrontation over the hoe—likely representing a social commentary on labor disputes, class conflict, or the struggle for workers' rights. The dramatic sky with birds and rocky landscape emphasizes the harsh conditions of manual labor. Without additional context from surrounding text, the specific political message is unclear, but the deliberate reference to Millet's famous work suggests this satirizes attitudes toward working people, labor conditions, or perhaps class relations during the era Life magazine was published.