Life — July 6, 1916 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Torch of Freedom — Keep It Burning" This July 1916 *Life* magazine cover depicts a classical female figure (likely Lady Liberty or Britannia) holding aloft a torch while a soldier in military uniform kneels or sits nearby. The image appears to reference World War I, which the United States had not yet officially entered (entry came in April 1917). The caption urges Americans to maintain commitment to democratic values and freedom during global conflict. The torch symbolizes liberty worth defending, while the soldier represents sacrifice. The allegorical composition—mixing classical mythology with contemporary warfare—was typical propaganda imagery encouraging American support for the Allied cause or military preparedness before official U.S. involvement.