Life — May 25, 1916 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is primarily an **advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It promotes the Willys-Knight Limousine, a closed-car automobile priced at $1,750 (Model 84B for Toledo). The ad's text emphasizes the limousine's practical advantages: protection from weather, mechanical superiority via "sleeve-valve motors and spiral bevel drive gears," and comfort for year-round driving. It positions closed cars as increasingly affordable and desirable compared to open vehicles. The illustration shows a stylized limousine with passengers, depicting the vehicle as elegant and modern. **Historical context**: This reflects early 1910s-20s automotive marketing when closed cars were transitioning from luxury items to mainstream products. The ad targets middle-class buyers considering this investment.