Life — July 12, 1917 — page 21: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This sketch depicts a farmer in overalls and hat standing in a rural landscape with a plow horse, wooden fence, and cultivated fields. The title "Back to the Farm" suggests commentary on returning to agricultural life. The satire likely references early 20th-century urban-to-rural migration trends or idealization of farm life by city dwellers. Life magazine frequently mocked such romantic notions of pastoral simplicity, contrasting idealized visions with the actual hardship of farming. The sketch's rough, loose style emphasizes the crude reality of farm work rather than any picturesque charm. Without additional context about the specific publication date, the precise social or political target remains unclear, though the tone appears to be gentle mockery of back-to-the-land sentiment.