Life — January 13, 1921 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration by Cesster depicts a scene at a New York bank's cashier window. The caption reads: "How a man feels while cashing a check for ten dollars in a New York bank." The cartoon humorously exaggerates the emotional experience of a routine banking transaction. The man at the window appears anxious or distressed while conducting this modest financial business, while three other men (likely bank employees or observers) regard him with stern, skeptical expressions. The satire targets the perceived indignity or intimidation of everyday banking procedures—suggesting that even a simple ten-dollar withdrawal feels like a formal interrogation. This reflects early 20th-century attitudes toward banking institutions as imposing, bureaucratic establishments that made ordinary citizens feel small or suspect.