Life — July 1, 1920 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a **Michelin tire advertisement**, not political satire. The page celebrates Michelin's 25-year history (dating from 1895, when they introduced the first pneumatic automobile tire). The layout contrasts past and present: a small circular image shows an early 1895 auto with pneumatic tires, while a large modern tire dominates the lower half, featuring a contemporary 1920s car with passengers and the famous **Michelin Man** (the bibendum mascot, visible as the white figure). The text emphasizes Michelin's innovation and ongoing product improvements. This is corporate marketing, leveraging their genuine historical achievement—inventing pneumatic tires—to establish brand prestige in the 1922 automotive market.