Life — December 1, 1927 — page 31: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon from *Life* magazine depicting a social scene under mistletoe during the Christmas season. The setting shows a well-dressed gathering in an elegant interior, with a man seated on a patterned sofa appearing uncomfortable or evasive while others around him—particularly women—seem to be engaging in the traditional mistletoe kissing custom. The humor appears to target social awkwardness around holiday romance rituals. The man's defensive posture and the title's cryptic "Number?" suggests the satire concerns dating customs or romantic entanglements—possibly poking fun at men's reluctance or confusion about romantic expectations during festive occasions. The cartoon mockingly documents this recognizable social dynamic of the era.