Life — November 30, 1922 — page 25: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This *Life* magazine cartoon satirizes theatrical or operatic costume design. Two observers discuss performers' costumes, with one character questioning whether the garments resulted from deliberate artistic choice ("design") or mishap ("accident"). The joke targets either: 1. **Avant-garde theater** - mocking experimental or abstract costume choices that seemed haphazard or nonsensical to conventional audiences 2. **Poorly-executed productions** - suggesting costumes look so ill-fitting or bizarre they appear accidental rather than intentionally created The arched theatrical setting and elaborate drapery establish an opera house or stage context. Without a specific date or production reference visible, the exact theatrical target remains unclear, but the satire mocks the disconnect between artists' pretensions and public perception of their work.