Life — September 22, 1927 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page is primarily **advertising, not satire**. It's a full-page ad for the Stearns-Knight automobile from the F.B. Stearns Company in Cleveland, Ohio. The only cartoon element is the illustration at top showing two horses and riders jumping a fence—a visual metaphor comparing the car's performance to equestrian excellence. The text claims the Stearns-Knight meets "the supreme test" of steeplechase jumping, positioning it as the most demanding automotive challenge. The ad emphasizes luxury and performance: 85 mph speed, 55-second acceleration, 100 horsepower. It's pitched as "America's most Luxurious Motor Car" available in 17 body styles, priced from $3,250 upward—targeting wealthy buyers in the 1920s-30s era. This reflects period advertising strategy: associating automobiles with aristocratic sports and prestige.