Life — May 17, 1923 — page 21: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a caricatured dentist in his office, reclining in an exaggerated pose in the dental chair rather than a patient. The figure appears to be an artistic or bohemian type—suggested by the aesthetic prints on the wall and the overall composition—rather than a medical professional. The satire likely mocks the phrase "art for art's sake," a late 19th/early 20th-century aesthetic philosophy emphasizing art's value independent of practical purpose. By placing this pretentious figure in a dentist's chair amid clinical equipment, Life suggests the absurdity of pursuing art divorced from utility or profession. The joke criticizes impractical artistic affectation, implying such idealism is self-indulgent or ridiculous when confronted with real-world professional responsibilities.