Life, 1920-10-28 · page 45 of 46
Life — October 28, 1920 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **car advertisement**, not a political cartoon or satire. It appears in *Life* magazine and promotes the Pierce-Arrow automobile, specifically its "Dual Valve Six" engine model. The image shows an elegant early-automobile (likely 1910s-1920s) positioned on a scenic country road surrounded by trees and dramatic clouds, with figures standing nearby. The advertisement's text emphasizes the car's practical virtues: reliable performance on rough country roads and city streets alike, engine power, safety features, and comfort for leisurely touring. The "point" is purely commercial: Pierce-Arrow positions its vehicle as equally capable in rural and urban settings while delivering the psychological comfort ("serene state of mind") necessary to enjoy scenic travel—a luxury appeal targeting affluent motorists.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE Pierce-Arrow addsa new pleasure to touring, to the country, to beautiful scenery, by the splendid way it copes with country road conditions. It is equally at home on country road or city street. The ample power of the Dual Valve Six provides the elasticity, the adaptability necessary to make ordinary drawbacks of long distance riding utterly negligible. The inherent safety built into the car ministers to that serene state of mind in which scenery can be best enjoyed. comicbooks.com