Life — July 2, 1925 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a satirical cartoon titled "So God Created Man in His Own Image" (Genesis quote). It depicts a crowded urban street scene filled with dozens of people engaged in various commercial and social activities—buying real estate, conducting business, shopping, playing, and socializing. The satire appears to critique American materialism and consumerism in the early 20th century. Visible signs reference real estate transactions, businesses, and commerce throughout the scene. The ironic biblical epigraph suggests the cartoon is commenting on how humans have shaped civilization according to their own (flawed) nature—emphasizing greed, acquisition, and commerce rather than spiritual values. The densely packed composition emphasizes how thoroughly commercial concerns dominate urban American life.