Life — April 1, 1920 — page 23: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *Life* magazine warns about the consequences of further clothing price increases. The bottom panel depicts chaos—children and working-class people in tattered clothes, some appearing to beg or scavenge, with a "Society Brand" sign visible, suggesting irony about luxury clothing becoming unaffordable. The upper panels show contrasting scenes: wealthy figures in fine dress at social gatherings, juxtaposed with what appears to be "Poor Grandma's Shame" (visible text), depicting an elderly person in shabby clothing. The cartoon critiques inflation's impact on ordinary people's ability to afford basic necessities. It's a commentary on economic inequality—while the wealthy maintain their lifestyle, working families face destitution if prices continue rising. The satire suggests that unchecked price inflation threatens social stability.