Life — October 3, 1918 — page 27: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon critiques German wartime tactics during World War I. The image depicts the Davidson statue "France Aroused"—a monumental sculpture of a woman with raised arms—looming over a battlefield where tiny German soldiers ("Teutons") flee in terror. The satire is darkly humorous: the caption sarcastically proposes using the statue as a weapon against Germany to retaliate for their use of poison gas and bombing of hospitals—violations of international warfare conventions that shocked Allied nations. The joke hinges on absurdity: instead of condemning the statue's artistic merit, why not weaponize it? This simultaneously mocks German brutality, defends French artistic pride, and reflects the bitter humor of WWI-era propaganda. The "Frightfulness" title likely references Germany's *Schrecklichkeit* (terror tactics) doctrine.