Life — January 22, 1920 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is primarily a **Michelin Tire Company advertisement**, not political satire. The page features the famous Michelin Man mascot (Bibendum) — a rotund, tire-like figure made of stacked tire rings — holding a Michelin tire. The ad promotes the "Michelin 30x3½" tire size for small cars. The sales pitch emphasizes that small tires maintain the same quality standards as larger Michelin products, using identical materials and manufacturing processes from their New Jersey factory. The small figures at the bottom appear to represent ordinary people/consumers, reinforcing the accessible, everyday nature of this tire option. This is **commercial advertising**, not editorial commentary or political cartoons, though the Michelin Man mascot itself became an iconic American advertising character during this era.