Life — March 1, 1928 — page 39: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a **Chrysler automobile advertisement**, not political satire or editorial cartoon. The page promotes the "New 112 H.P. Chrysler Imperial '80'" with a large stylized illustration showing the car alongside an ornate, fantastical tower or structure filled with decorative architectural and mechanical imagery. The tower appears designed to visually convey luxury, sophistication, and engineering prowess—metaphorically "building" the car's prestige. The accompanying text emphasizes the vehicle's performance features: 112 horsepower, advanced engineering, quality craftsmanship by named designers (Locke, Lebaron, Dietrich), and comfort amenities. The "Imperial '80" designation references the model name. This is a straightforward commercial advertisement typical of 1920s-30s magazines, using elaborate visual metaphor to market automotive luxury rather than containing editorial satire or political commentary.