Life — June 10, 1915 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes Omar Turkish Blend cigarettes made by The American Tobacco Company. The advertisement features an Orientalist scene depicting two figures in what appears to be a Middle Eastern setting with a domed building. The imagery is designed to evoke exotic Turkish heritage to market the product's "Turkish blend" composition. The ad's copy emphasizes the blend combines Turkish and Virginia leaf tobacco, claiming superiority over all-Turkish or all-Virginia cigarettes alone. The price point—"20 for 15c"—appears competitive for the era. The decorative Art Deco border and Omar brand imagery reflect early 20th-century design and marketing conventions. This is commercial advertising rather than social or political commentary.