Life — April 1, 1920 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is primarily an **advertisement for Mercer automobiles**, not a political cartoon. The page appears in *Life* magazine's advertising section. The ad features an artistic illustration of a Mercer car driving through a tree-lined countryside road, framed by large trees creating a natural archway. The accompanying text claims the Mercer's design drew inspiration from natural forms—specifically "the rhythmic swirl of the mountain brook" and structural principles learned from elm and oak trees' strength and longevity. This reflects early 20th-century **marketing that linked automobiles to nature and organic design**—a common advertising strategy positioning cars as harmonious with the natural world rather than industrial intrusions. The tagline "We Shall Keep Faith" emphasizes reliability and quality craftsmanship.