Life — August 5, 1920 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Peacemaker" This cartoon, dated August 5, 1920, depicts an eagle (symbolizing America) perched atop what appears to be a serpent or snake. The title "The Peacemaker" is ironic—the eagle's aggressive posture and talons suggest military force rather than peaceful negotiation. The cartoon likely comments on American foreign policy following World War I. The eagle probably represents the United States, while the snake may symbolize either a foreign adversary or conflict itself. The artist (Charles Livingston Bull, per the signature) appears to satirize American "peacekeeping" efforts as fundamentally aggressive or militaristic. Without additional context about specific 1920 diplomatic events, the exact target remains unclear, though it critiques U.S. interventionism or military approaches to international disputes.