Life — November 25, 1920 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Profiteer" - Life Magazine, November 25, 1920 This satirical illustration depicts a well-dressed businessman sitting at a desk, appearing nervous or evasive while handling papers. The title "The Profiteer" suggests criticism of wartime or post-war business practices. The cartoon likely references profiteers who accumulated wealth through exploitative practices during or immediately after World War I (which ended in 1918). The man's anxious posture and body language suggest guilt or fear of consequences—possibly alluding to public outcry against those deemed to have unfairly enriched themselves while others sacrificed during the war. The decorative bust and relatively comfortable office setting emphasize the profiteer's wealth, contrasting with the era's widespread economic hardship and resentment toward those seen as war profiteers.