Life — January 18, 1917 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# White Motor Company Advertisement This is a straightforward advertisement, not satire. It promotes the White Motor Company's "Sixteen Valve" automobile from Cleveland, Ohio. The ad features an illustration of an elegant open-air touring car with two well-dressed figures—a woman in a long dress on the left and a man in formal attire on the right—examining the vehicle. The accompanying text argues that White cars achieve "marked individuality of appearance" while remaining "markedly progressive within the conservative bounds of good taste." It suggests the company offers customizable "upholstery and finish" to suit individual owner preferences. This represents typical 1920s-era luxury automobile marketing, emphasizing both distinction and refinement to appeal to affluent consumers. The design and messaging reflect period standards of elegance and exclusivity.