Life — March 31, 1921 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1900-era *Life* magazine cartoon by Rollin Kirby depicts a satirical scene titled "Working for the Richest Man in the Block and for the Richest Government in the World." The cartoon shows a well-dressed man (representing wealth/capital) on the left handing money to two working-class men. One worker carries a bag labeled "$1600 A YEAR"—suggesting meager wages despite working for extremely wealthy employers. The satire critiques the economic disparity of the era: workers laboring for both private wealthy industrialists and the prosperous U.S. government receive pittance wages, while their employers accumulate vast wealth. This reflects Progressive-era concerns about labor exploitation and income inequality during America's industrial boom period.