Life — June 27, 1930 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a **Goodyear tire advertisement**, not a satirical cartoon. The page features a portrait (credited to Sir Anthony Van Dyck, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art) of what appears to be a historical gentleman in 17th-century dress, positioned above a large tire illustration. The advertisement's pitch argues that quality craftsmanship is timeless: "Times and customs change, but the regard of men for a work superlatively fine does not change." It uses this classical portrait as a metaphor—just as Van Dyck's painting remains valued across centuries, so the Goodyear Double Eagle Tire supposedly maintains its superior quality despite changing times and market conditions. The ad claims the tire's excellence has driven increasing demand, allowing prices to drop while maintaining superior quality.