Life — December 16, 1920 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Christmas Gnomes - Page Analysis This page from *Life* magazine presents a lighthearted Christmas poem by Arthur Gutterman divided into five numbered sections, accompanied by whimsical illustrations. The content depicts gnomes celebrating Christmas in domestic settings—opening presents, dancing around a tree, and enjoying holiday festivities. The accompanying drawings show children and fantastical creatures in Victorian-era Christmas scenes. Below the poem are three separate comedic sketches: "Anticipating Christmas Noon" (children around a tree), "The Giraffe" (a visual pun about a toy giraffe), and two brief comic dialogues—"Quick! Assistance!" (about a plumber) and "Too Sweeping" (about Christmas tree decorations). These are gentle, family-oriented humor pieces typical of *Life*'s approach to holiday entertainment, with no apparent political content or social satire.