Life — February 22, 1917 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Ethiopian Version" This 1917 *Life* magazine cover depicts two figures in a garden setting with a snake and fruit—clearly referencing the Biblical Garden of Eden scene. The caption "THE ETHIOPIAN VERSION" suggests this is a satirical reimagining of the Adam and Eve creation story through an Ethiopian cultural lens. The image appears to be commentary on racial or cultural perspectives on Western religious narratives. By labeling it an "Ethiopian version," the magazine implies this is how the story might be depicted in Ethiopian artistic or cultural tradition, contrasting with European artistic conventions of the era. Without additional context, the specific satirical point remains somewhat unclear, though it likely comments on cultural differences in religious interpretation or artistic representation during this period.