Life — April 29, 1920 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *Life* magazine (page 788) features a satirical illustration of a woman examining what appears to be a needlework or textile sample. The caption quotes Robert Burns: "Oh, wad some power the giftie gie us"—a reference to his poem "To a Louse," which laments human inability to see ourselves as others see us. The cartoon appears to satirize female vanity or self-deception, likely critiquing women's blind spots regarding their own appearance or behavior. The formal dress, elaborate hairstyle, and the woman's focused examination of the textile suggest commentary on middle or upper-class feminine concerns. The Burns quotation implies irony: the woman lacks the self-awareness the poem advocates for. Without the artist's name visible, the specific target remains somewhat unclear.