Life — February 14, 1918 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon titled "Her Two Enemies" depicts a blindfolded female figure labeled "Democracy" confronting two male adversaries. On the left stands a skeletal, death-like figure in dark robes, likely representing monarchy or autocracy. On the right is a militaristic male figure wearing a decorated uniform with insignia, apparently representing militarism or authoritarian government. The satire suggests that democracy faced two primary threats in the era this was published. The allegorical woman's blindfold emphasizes democracy's vulnerability or inability to see these dangers clearly. The contrasting depictions—one ghostly and archaic, the other militaristic and contemporary—suggest the cartoon addresses both historical tyranny and modern threats to democratic governance, though the specific historical moment remains unclear without additional dating.