Life — December 5, 1918 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is primarily an **advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes "Onyx" brand hosiery made by Emery & Beers Company of New York. The illustration shows a woman in 1920s attire (cloche hat, dark skirt, light sweater) sitting on a beach chair, displaying her legs in the advertised stockings. The accompanying caption reads "She Wears 'Onyx' Because 'Onyx' Wears"—a pun suggesting the hosiery's durability. The social context: this reflects the "Roaring Twenties" when women's fashion became less restrictive. The casual beach setting and visible legwear were relatively modern for the era. The page notes "Onyx for Gifts" and "Best Dealers Everywhere," indicating this was a premium product marketed for holiday purchasing.