Life — May 6, 1920 — page 53: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is not a political cartoon but rather a **full-page automobile advertisement** from Life magazine. It promotes the Cole Aero-Eight Roadster, manufactured by the Cole Motor Car Company in Indianapolis. The ad employs forward-looking marketing language typical of the early automotive era, claiming the vehicle represents "tomorrow" through its "distinctive," "original," and "exclusive" features. The side-profile illustration shows a sleek open-air roadster with period-appropriate styling—spoke wheels, running board, and open cabin. The tagline "There's a touch of tomorrow in all Cole does today" positions the car as innovative and ahead of competitors. The company's self-description as "Creators of Advanced Motor Cars" emphasizes technological progressiveness—a key selling point when automobiles were still relatively new luxury goods. This reflects early 20th-century consumer advertising's emphasis on modernity and progress.