LONDON.- Imperial War Museums (IWM) is marking 150 years since the birth of Sir Winston Churchill with a new exhibition at IWM London. Churchill in Cartoons: Satirising a Statesman offers a unique and fascinating insight into the changing nature of how Churchill was represented in political cartoons throughout his life and beyond. IWM will also be marking the anniversary with a series of events at IWM London and Churchill War Rooms.
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Featuring 24 original artworks dating from 1909 to 2003, Churchill in Cartoons: Satirising a Statesman illustrates how Churchill was perceived and portrayed by satirical cartoonists. Visitors will discover how these portrayals influenced public perception during his lifetime and shaped our understanding of his role in 20th century history. The exhibition features cartoons from throughout Churchill’s long career in the public eye: from his early years as a young politician, to his time as Britain’s wartime Prime Minister and his enduring global fame, with a legacy that is still drawn on by cartoonists today. It also shows how cartoonists blend fierce criticism with sardonic humour – highlighting how the medium was ideally suited to articulate and explain his bold, often controversial actions over a long professional life.
Throughout his career, Churchill appeared in thousands of cartoons, with his distinctive image, including his cigar and wartime ‘V’ sign, enduring. The exhibition begins with Churchill’s early career as an MP, as well as his Admiralty role and controversial decisions during the First World War. A cartoon from Punch magazine in 1914 depicts Churchill supporting the Roman sea god Neptune with aircraft, representing the establishment of the Royal Naval Air Service. In contrast, the 1930s were known as Churchill’s ‘Wilderness Years’, when his views, particularly on Indian self-rule, made him unpopular with many. In a cartoon from 1934 by Australian artist Will Dyson, Churchill is portrayed as an irate policeman, desperately chasing Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin’s Indian Reform Bill, which is moving at a snail’s pace.
During the Second World War, cartoons published in Britain reflected Churchill’s popularity as the great wartime leader. Unsurprisingly, publications under Nazi control portrayed Churchill negatively, often as a warmonger. A Czech cartoon by an unknown artist shows Churchill fleeing German bombs during the Blitz, while blaming him for the German bombing campaign against Britain – a trope that was typical of Nazi propaganda at the time. As the war turned global, cartoonists often portrayed Churchill as a world statesman and explored his relationships with his fellow Allied leaders Roosevelt and Stalin. A 1941 David Low cartoon shows a cigar-smoking Churchill with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt during their Atlantic Conference off the coast of Newfoundland - highlighting how far and frequently he travelled during the war. Soon after the Second World War ended in Europe, Churchill lost the 1945 General Election, which shocked many, including Churchill. US cartoonist Jim Berryman uses Churchill’s own words - 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few' - in a cartoon marking the election results.
Churchill’s enduring legacy is built on his time as Prime Minister during the Second World War, which has encouraged modern day cartoonists to draw parallels with modern day politicians. On display is a cartoon by Swiss-born artist Peter Schrank, comparing Churchill’s image as a strong war leader with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
In addition to cartoons by British artists, the exhibition includes original works by cartoonists from countries including the US, Russia, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The exhibition also has an interactive display showing 16 cartoons from other countries around the world, including India, Japan, Germany, Cuba, Hungary and the Soviet Union. These cartoons, in a variety of languages, offering multiple, international, perspectives on Churchill’s political career and his legacy. They include a 1942 cartoon from French newspaper Le Petit Parisien, presenting Churchill and U.S. President Roosevelt as gangsters; and a Russian cartoon from 1948, depicting Churchill as an enemy of the Soviet Union.
The exhibition also includes two original publications, both of which feature a cartoon of Churchill on their pages. An edition of Punch from 1915 shows him arriving on the Western Front in army uniform, whilst a copy of the Daily Mirror from 1940 has a Philip Zec cartoon of Churchill squaring up to Hitler. These publications allow visitors to see how contemporaneous audiences encountered cartoons of Churchill in their final, printed version.
Kate Clements, Lead Curator of Churchill in Cartoons: Satirising a Statesman, said: “Almost 150 years after his birth, Churchill remains one of the best-known public figures in history. His distinctive image was a gift to satirical cartoonists and throughout his career, particularly during the Second World War, cartoons played a significant part in shaping how people thought of him. Through this exhibition, we offer visitors a new and different way of exploring Churchill’s complicated career and his enduring legacy.”
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