Life — February 1, 1929 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This appears to be a humorous comic strip about horseback riding and fox hunting, popular aristocratic pastimes in early 20th-century America. The sequential panels depict a gentleman rider (identifiable by his top hat and formal attire) repeatedly failing at various aspects of horsemanship—jumping fences, controlling his mount, and staying mounted. The satire targets upper-class pretensions to sporting prowess; the joke is that despite their refined appearance and fashionable dress, wealthy people often prove incompetent at the actual physical demands of their leisure activities. The exaggerated falls and mishaps create slapstick humor. This reflects Life magazine's satirical approach to mocking American high society's pretensions and social affectations during the Gilded Age/Progressive Era.