Life — February 12, 1920 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a **Victor Talking Machine Company advertisement**, not political satire. The page showcases the famous "His Master's Voice" trademark—a white dog (a fox terrier named Nipper) listening intently to a gramophone horn. The ad emphasizes that Victor's brand represents "supreme musical quality" and claims the company is "the world's largest and greatest musical industry." It references that twenty years prior, talking machines were considered novelties, but Victor has elevated them to fine art comparable to opera. The dog listening to the gramophone is meant to suggest that even a simple animal recognizes quality sound reproduction—a humorous way to convey the product's superiority. This iconic image became one of advertising's most recognizable symbols, still used today.