Life — November 25, 1920 — page 27: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration depicts a dramatic interior scene contrasting two figures: a ghostly, anguished spirit looming above and a businessman seated at a desk below, surrounded by papers and money. The title suggests a moral commentary on wartime profiteering—a common satirical target in *Life* magazine during the early 20th century. The "profiteer" (the businessman) represents someone who accumulated wealth through exploitative practices, likely during World War I. The "remorse" figure above symbolizes the moral consequences or haunting guilt of such greed. The cluttered desk and financial documents emphasize commercial gain. The satire critiques capitalists who enriched themselves while others suffered, a popular Progressive-era theme. The gothic imagery—the ghost, shadows, confined space—heightens the moral darkness of profiteering.