Life — November 30, 1916 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a densely detailed architectural bird's-eye view illustration of what appears to be a futuristic or imagined New York City scene, showing multiple levels of transportation and activity. The image depicts: - **Upper level**: An airplane marked "STATEN ISLAND FERRY" and "AIR PORT No 21" - **Middle sections**: Multi-story buildings including "HOTEL ASKMORE" and "BUSINESSMEN'S LUNCH" - **Ground level**: Crowds of people, automobiles, pedestrians engaged in various activities The satirical point appears to mock urban congestion, technological progress, and modern life's complexity—showing transportation stacked vertically (planes, cars, people) in an impossibly crowded cityscape. This likely critiques 1920s American urbanization, commercialism, and the overwhelming nature of modern metropolitan life. The dense, chaotic composition emphasizes social satire rather than celebration of progress.