Life — July 26, 1917 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Tannery" - Life Magazine, Page 129 This cartoon depicts a beach scene titled "The Tannery," satirizing early 20th-century beach culture and sunbathing habits. Multiple figures are shown lounging on sand in various states of undress, appearing to sunbathe intensely—hence the "tannery" metaphor comparing their skin-darkening to leather tanning. The satire likely mocks the contemporary obsession with acquiring tanned skin as a status symbol and leisure indicator. The crowded, somewhat chaotic composition suggests both the popularity of beach culture and perhaps the undignified spectacle of modern recreational bathing. The exaggerated poses and variety of swimming attire reflect period attitudes toward public beach behavior and fashion.