Life — March 10, 1921 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Monkey See, Monkey Do" This March 1921 *Life* magazine cover uses a silhouette illustration showing a monkey in profile against a large moon, with bare branches nearby. The caption "Monkey See, Monkey Do" is a proverb meaning to imitate without understanding. The image likely comments on imitation or mimicry in contemporary society, though the specific target remains unclear from the visual alone. Given *Life*'s satirical nature, it probably mocks either: - Blind conformity or fashion-following among Americans - Specific public figures or groups uncritically imitating others - Evolutionary/scientific debates of the era about human nature The stark, dramatic silhouette style emphasizes the comparison between human and animal behavior.