Life — January 13, 1921 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Ode to Artistic Temperament" This page satirizes the moody, temperamental artist. The poem (attributed to "By His Family") humorously describes an artist's difficult personality: he dislikes sun and rain, makes family members "shake our heads in sorrow," abandons activities whimsically, and demands silence while working. His mood controls the household—family members "tread in fear and silence." The illustration below depicts a domestic scene where this temperamental figure (shown in dark clothing, back to viewer) dominates a room of children and adults. The caption reads: "Awful bore, isn't it? Well, the children seem to enjoy it." The satire mocks the artistic temperament as fundamentally selfish and burdensome to family members, while ironically noting that only the children find amusement in the chaos.