Life — December 2, 1915 — page 79: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a **Cook's Imperial Champagne advertisement**, not a political cartoon. The "Christmas Life" heading frames it as holiday-themed marketing content. The ad shows a champagne bottle, a filled coupe glass, festive elements (grapes, decorative netting), and text stating: "Our Christmas calls for a bottle of Champagne, then make it a good one—COOK'S." The humor is gentle, playing on the idea that Christmas celebration *requires* champagne, and that one should choose Cook's brand specifically to ensure quality. This reflects early 20th-century advertising targeting middle/upper-class consumers for whom champagne was an aspirational luxury good associated with festive occasions. The elegant presentation and sophisticated styling were typical of period advertising aimed at wealthy readers of *Life* magazine.