Life — August 24, 1922 — page 23: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts an enormous human head in profile positioned directly on railroad tracks, blocking a steam locomotive. The train sits atop the figure's head, smoke billowing from its stack. In the background, a small railway station and crossing are visible. The satire appears to critique idealistic thinking or daydreaming as a practical obstacle. The title suggests that an "idealist"—someone lost in thought or abstract ideas—literally blocks progress. The massive head represents abstract idealism taking up physical space and preventing the practical machinery of modern life (the train) from functioning normally. It's a commentary on how excessive idealism or impractical philosophy can impede real-world efficiency and progress.