Life — December 20, 1917 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily a **Packard automobile advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It appears from the *Life* magazine archives (page 1034). The ad uses a visual comparison: a skier in free flight down a snowy slope positioned above a Packard Imperial Limousine. The headline asks "Why do men ski?" to draw a parallel between skiing's thrilling sensation of unimpeded speed and the driving experience offered by Packard's Twin-Six engine. The copy emphasizes engineering features—smooth power, minimal vibration from twelve balanced cylinders—positioning the car as delivering the "thrill" and "beauty of motion" comparable to winter sports. This is straightforward automotive marketing rhetoric from the early automobile era, targeting wealthy consumers who could afford luxury vehicles and leisure skiing.