Life — February 8, 1917 — page 22: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts five men in formal attire standing on stacks of books, with their hands raised in apparent obstruction or opposition. The title "A Barrier to Progress" suggests these figures represent obstacles to advancement or reform. The stack of books beneath them likely symbolizes accumulated laws, regulations, or legal precedent. The raised hands convey blocking or resistance. Based on the style and context, these appear to be lawyers or legal/judicial figures impeding social or legislative progress—a common satirical target in early 20th-century American reform-minded publications. The specific identity of the figures is unclear from visible text, but the cartoon critiques how legal establishments or conservative judicial forces obstruct progressive change or reform initiatives.