Life — May 2, 1930 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine, May 2, 1930: "A Good Head for Business" This page features a portrait photograph with the caption "A Good Head for Business" and a subtitle attributing it to "Penrhyn Staniaws's Conception of the Ideal American Beauty." The satirical point appears to be commentary on 1930s beauty standards and their relationship to women in business. The phrase "A Good Head for Business" is a double entendre—literally about business acumen, but paired with the portrait, it suggests ironic commentary on whether women were valued for their minds or appearance in professional contexts. The closing question "Do You Know a Girl Who Looks Like This? See Page 30" indicates this was part of a larger feature in the magazine, likely continuing the satirical examination of idealized femininity and female participation in the business world during the early Depression era.