Life — January 31, 1918 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This sketch depicts a woman standing in a doorway, holding up fabric or clothing while gazing outward. The sign behind her reads "A Man of This House Came Front" (likely "A Man of This House Came to the Front"). The cartoon appears to be WWI-era satire addressing the "home front" experience. It likely comments on women left behind while men served in combat. The woman's elegant dress and waiting pose suggest she's maintaining domestic life and perhaps romantic fidelity during her husband's or partner's military service. The title "Until He Comes Back" emphasizes this theme of waiting. The satire likely mocks either the sentimentality of wartime separation or, conversely, questions women's constancy—a common satirical subject in Life magazine during this period. The exact political or social critique remains somewhat unclear without additional context.