Life, 1927-07-28 · page 35 of 36
Life — July 28, 1927 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is **not a cartoon or satire—it's a straight automobile advertisement** for the Packard automobile company, likely from the 1920s. The page features a black-and-white photograph of a Packard Six sedan on the left, paired with a nature illustration of parrots at the top. The ad's strategy compares the car's color options to harmonious colors found in nature (flowers, sunsets, birds), arguing that Packard employs an artistic "Board of Color" to ensure discriminating taste in paint schemes. The tagline "Ask the man who owns one" was Packard's actual famous slogan emphasizing owner satisfaction and prestige. There is no political satire or caricature here. The page demonstrates how early 20th-century luxury car marketing appealed to consumers' aspirations toward refined aesthetic judgment and social status.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nature abounds in beautiful and harmonious color com: the flowers, the sunset Color. The birds, t skies, set perfect examples—and point the way to brilliant color schemes all in perfect taste. binations. Yet what artistry is required in the selection and tones to satisfy the modern for color in motor cars! Packard has a special Board of Color made up of men of long experience and artistic judgment. These men create the standard color combinations which charm the eye in such wide variety on today’s Packard Six. And they advise onthe special re- of shades vogue Pp A.C K A ASK E MAN quirements of thosewho buy the Pack Whether Six or Eight is your choice you be as sure of the charm and good taste Packard's color scheme as you are ing beauty. For Packard lavishes as mu and effort on the unusual processes which preserve the car’s color and fir the selection of the shades which w to Packard's discriminatir hceare clientele Nothing finer is offered anywhere in the world than the enduring brilliance of Packard cars —long in life and long in beauty of lines and finish. WHO Ww s ONE comicbooks.com