Life — April 15, 1915 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon mocks the Arts and Crafts Club as pretentious and affected. The illustration depicts an absurdly stylized interior—all decorative excess with ornamental columns, checkered floors, and wall hangings—where elaborately dressed figures pose awkwardly among artistic objects: vases, sculptures, and hanging fabrics. The satire targets what the cartoonist saw as the club's affectation and impracticality. Members are shown in exaggerated, theatrical dress, seemingly more concerned with aesthetic posturing than genuine creativity or purpose. The cluttered, over-decorated space suggests that members prioritize appearance over substance. The title's dismissive tone ("clubs we do not care to join") implies Life magazine's skepticism toward such elite artistic societies, viewing them as exclusionary and frivolously concerned with style rather than meaningful artistic or social contribution.