Life — May 26, 1921 — page 35: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. The image shows a caricatured man in working-class attire (flat cap, collared shirt) smoking a cigarette. The handwritten text reads: "Every time you see a man smoking a Fatima, you know he is getting all the fun a cigarette can give. 20 for 25¢—but taste the difference!" The advertisement's pitch emphasizes value and quality—suggesting Fatima cigarettes offer superior taste at a competitive price point. The illustration uses a rough, masculine aesthetic to appeal to working-class male smokers. The tagline "Nothing else will do" reinforces brand loyalty. This represents early 20th-century cigarette marketing before health warnings, targeting affordability-conscious consumers.