Life — April 11, 1918 — page 22: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration depicts "Prussian Gentlemen" and appears to be Cold War-era commentary on German or Prussian militarism. The central figure wears a military uniform with a prominent cross decoration (likely the Iron Cross), characteristic of Prussian military iconography. The exaggerated facial features and caricatured style typical of Life magazine's satirical approach suggest mockery of Prussian military culture and its associated values. The scene shows military figures in formal dress with boots, reflecting 19th-20th century Germanic military tradition. Without additional OCR text or caption details visible, the specific political context remains somewhat unclear, but the cartoon likely critiques Prussian authoritarianism, militarism, or post-war German politics depending on Life's publication date.