Life — December 13, 1923 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *Life* magazine features a pen-and-ink illustration titled "The Vanishing" with subtitle "Interesting Survival of an Old Social Custom of..." The image depicts a well-dressed woman in 1920s-30s attire at a dining table, holding a handkerchief to her face in what appears to be distress or emotion. A child peeks from behind her. The drawing style and composition suggest social satire about changing customs. The title's reference to something "vanishing" and an "old social custom" likely critiques outdated feminine behavior—possibly excessive emotional displays, fainting spells, or other Victorian-era affectations that were becoming obsolete in modern society. The incomplete caption prevents full certainty of the exact custom being mocked, but the imagery suggests commentary on evolving gender norms and social expectations during this era.