Life — August 21, 1919 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes "nervous prostration"—a Victorian-era diagnosis for exhaustion and anxiety, often attributed to overindulgence or stress. The image depicts a cherub-like figure lounging in a wicker chair with bottles of alcohol nearby, suggesting excessive drinking as the cause of the condition. The background figures appear to be concerned observers or doctors, reinforcing the medical pretense. The satirical point likely critiques either: - The fashionable hypochondria of wealthy people claiming "nervous exhaustion" - Post-WWI anxiety and excess among the affluent - The absurdity of diagnosing overindulgence as illness rather than moral failing The cherub's contented expression undercuts the "illness" claim, suggesting the real problem is self-indulgent behavior masquerading as legitimate medical concern.