Life — October 23, 1931 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Sinbad: The Portrait!" — Life Magazine This is a humorous comic strip depicting a child's attempt to paint a portrait of what appears to be a dog or shaggy animal sitting in an armchair. The sequence shows the escalating chaos: the child starts calmly sketching while the animal sits still, but progressively the animal becomes more active and playful, eventually leading to complete pandemonium where child and animal are rolling around together on the floor, with art supplies scattered everywhere. The joke plays on the difficulty of getting a pet to sit still for a portrait—a relatable domestic scenario. The title "Sinbad" likely refers to the animal character. The satire gently mocks both artistic ambition and pet behavior, showing how best-laid plans collapse into cheerful disorder. It's a lighthearted commentary on everyday family life with animals.