Life — September 9, 1915 — page 23: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration is titled "Studies in Expression" and depicts a formal social gathering—likely an upper-class dinner party or reception based on the elegant clothing and setting. The sketch shows five figures displaying various emotional states or reactions as they await something called "the flashlight" (presumably a photograph being taken). The humor appears to center on how people artificially compose their expressions when aware they're being observed or photographed. Each figure demonstrates a different pose or emotion—some forced smiles, affected postures, or exaggerated expressions—satirizing the self-conscious behavior people adopt for the camera. This reflects turn-of-the-century anxieties about photography's growing social presence and the performative nature of public appearance.