Life — June 21, 1917 — page 13: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a humorous six-panel comic sequence illustrating the progression of a romantic relationship between a man and woman. Each numbered panel shows a labeled stage: 7. "The Brisk Walk" - couple walking energetically 8. "The Striving to Feel Romantic" - forced intimacy 9. "The Sudden Indifference" - emotional distance emerging 10. "The Growing Apart" - physical separation widening 11. "The Positive Dislike" - obvious tension and rejection 12. "The Utter Loathing" - complete estrangement The satirical point targets the common trajectory of romantic relationships, depicting how initial attraction deteriorates into active dislike. The exaggerated body language and facial expressions emphasize the emotional arc, suggesting cynicism about love's durability. This reflects early-to-mid 20th century satirical humor about marriage and relationships.