Life — December 7, 1916 — page 87: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a straightforward advertisement for the Ohio Electric Car Company, published in *Life* magazine (likely early 1910s, based on the vehicle design and typography). The page promotes electric automobiles as luxury vehicles, emphasizing their refined design, customizable interiors, and ease of operation via "magnetic control" and braking. The ad targets wealthy consumers by positioning Ohio Electric ownership as a status symbol reflecting personal sophistication and taste. The decorative border and elegant typography reinforce the "luxury" positioning. This reflects a historical moment when electric cars were viable competitors to gasoline vehicles—particularly appealing to affluent urban drivers before gasoline engines became dominant. There is no political satire or social commentary intended here; it's period advertising reflecting early automotive market competition.