Life — June 26, 1924 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a detailed satirical map of Paris, drawn in an isometric perspective style. The illustration labels famous Parisian landmarks and locations—including the Eiffel Tower (prominently centered), the Seine river, the Folies Bergère theater, and various cafés and government buildings like the "Préfecture de Police." The cartoon depicts Paris as a lively social scene filled with leisure activities: people dining, dancing, flirting, and enjoying nightlife. The scattered French phrases ("Oo-la-la," "Vive," "Co-la-la") and musical notes emphasize Paris's reputation for romance, gaiety, and sophisticated pleasures. The text fragment ("It is a far better thing that I do than I have ever done") appears to be satirizing some cultural or political claim about Paris, possibly mocking American tourists' romanticized views of French life or a contemporary commentary on Paris's cultural prestige. The overall effect is a humorous, affectionate caricature of Paris as the world's capital of pleasure and romance.