Life — May 27, 1920 — page 44: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a **product advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It promotes "Washington's Coffee," an instant coffee product from the G. Washington Sales Co. in New York. The ad emphasizes convenience—no coffee pot, grounds, or boiling required. Users simply add hot water to concentrated powder in their cup. The small illustration (left) shows a couple at a table, presumably enjoying the ease of preparation. The product's name references its inventor, Mr. Washington (unclear if this is a real person or marketing). The ad targets modern efficiency-minded consumers by highlighting time-saving and cleanliness ("no waste," "absolutely pure"). This reflects early 20th-century marketing trends promoting instant/processed foods as markers of progress and convenience for busy households.