Life — March 22, 1917 — page 21: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Life magazine cartoon depicts a skeletal, militaristic figure labeled "MILITARISM" standing over a mass grave or ditch filled with crosses (representing dead soldiers). The figure wields a scythe, depicted as the Grim Reaper of war. The satire criticizes militarism as inherently deadly—a force that harvests human lives. The crosses suggest battlefield casualties, while the dark clouds and desolate landscape emphasize death and destruction. Without the publication date visible, the specific historical context is unclear, though the artistic style suggests early-to-mid 20th century. This could reference World War I, interwar militarism, or another period of conflict. The message warns readers that embracing militaristic ideology leads inevitably to mass death.