Life — February 25, 1915 — page 26: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents two ink sketch portraits oriented upside-down relative to the page's text. The caption indicates these are studies examining facial expressions in the context of German culture or character. The sketches show detailed character studies rendered in cross-hatching technique typical of late 19th/early 20th-century satirical illustration. Without clearer context or dates visible, I cannot definitively identify the specific individuals depicted or confirm the exact satirical point. The "natural reading" caption suggests the cartoonist is examining how to interpret German physiognomy or expressions, possibly as social commentary on German character traits—a common theme in American satirical magazines of that era. The artistic focus appears anthropological rather than addressing a specific political event.