Life — September 4, 1919 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily **advertising, not satire or political commentary**. It's a United States Tires company advertisement for "Royal Cord" brand tires, published in *Life* magazine. The ad uses an illustration of an early automobile navigating dramatic canyon scenery to suggest durability and adventure. The accompanying text emphasizes that Royal Cord tires offer beauty *plus* hidden structural qualities—superior durability that reveals itself through extended use and "extra service." The headline "More than 'Skin Deep'" plays on the common expression to argue that these tires have inner strength beyond their surface appearance. A large tire image dominates the right side of the page. This reflects early 20th-century automotive advertising emphasizing reliability and performance during an era when tire quality significantly affected vehicle safety and capability.