Life — September 19, 1918 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This sketch depicts a woman and child in classical or allegorical style, with the woman pointing outward toward a distant landscape. The child wears a headband labeled "NEW RUSSIA," indicating this is a political allegory about post-revolutionary Russia. The title "The Lost Child" suggests the satire concerns Russia's uncertain fate following the 1917 revolution. The woman—likely representing Russia itself or a classical figure symbolizing the nation—appears to be gesturing toward an unknown future, while the child labeled as the "new" Russia appears vulnerable and directionless. This reflects early 20th-century American anxieties about Russia's political trajectory and the fate of its people during the turbulent post-revolutionary period.