Life — March 12, 1925 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts personified figures representing "Income Tax" and what appears to be "Big Business" hiding from an approaching authority figure. The skeleton-like character labeled "INCOME TAX" lurks in a doorway while another figure crouches below, clutching papers marked "BIG BUSINESS." The caption—"And stay out of sight till he's gone!"—suggests tax evasion or avoidance. The cartoon satirizes the relationship between wealthy business interests and tax authorities, implying that big business and income tax obligations are in collusion to hide from governmental oversight or inspection. The dark, shadowy style emphasizes the secretive, illicit nature of the activity being mocked. This reflects early-to-mid 20th-century American anxieties about corporate tax avoidance and regulatory capture.