Life — January 6, 1927 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration by Will Ranells depicts a bulldog wearing a flat cap, polka-dot bow tie, and smoking a cigarette. The title "The Poker Face" suggests the image comments on someone maintaining an inscrutable, emotionless expression—a poker face—likely during negotiations or public appearances. The specific political or social reference remains unclear without additional context. The anthropomorphized bulldog in working-class attire (flat cap, bow tie) may represent either a political figure or a type—possibly commenting on American business dealings, labor relations, or diplomatic negotiations occurring in early 1927. The cartoonist's satirical intent appears to critique someone's calculated emotional restraint, but the exact target cannot be definitively identified from the image alone.