Pavement Art as political metaphor
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term “cartoon” in its modern sense as a humorous illustration. It became a British institution, but after the 1940s, when its circulation peaked, it went into a long decline, finally closing in 1992. It was revived in 1996, but closed again in 2002.
These are a selection of cartoons published by Punch between 1914 & 1922
Caption reads: “Pavement Artist (who has not yet recovered the nerve which he lost on hearing the attack upon the VELASQUEZ Venus). “PASS ALONG THEM COVERS, GEORGE- THE SUFFRAGETTES IS COMING”.
Published on the 22nd April 1914: Refers to the Lady Suffragettes attack on the painting known as the “Rokerby Venus.”
On March 10, 1914, the suffragette Mary Richardson walked into the National Gallery and attacked Velázquez’s canvas with a meat cleaver. Her action was provoked by the arrest of fellow suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst the previous day, although there had been earlier warnings of a planned suffragette attack on the collection. Richardson left seven slashes on the painting, particularly causing damage to the area between the figure’s shoulders. However, all were successfully repaired by the National Gallery’s chief restorer Helmut Ruhemann.
caption: Unfortunate position of once popular Berlin Naval Battle artist, whose occupation has vanished through his having rashly sunk the entire British Fleet at an early stage of the war.
Published on the 10th May 1916: Comment on the progress of WWI
caption: LITTLE LESSONS IN HUMILITY—The opulent caricaturist who never passes a pavement artist without reflecting that he himself might have been in a similar position if only the Kaiser had had no moustache.
Published on the 12th July 1916: Comment on WWI
caption: The Artist. “I say, Guv’ner, would you mind standin’ on the cheese instead of the ‘Death O’ Nelson’?”
Published on the 17th September 1919: Social comment!
caption: Native (to visitor, who is drawing a steamer for his daughter). “Those Futurist pictures may do all right in Brighton, my lad, but they’ll never go in Burley-on-Sea.”
Published in July 1920: comment on modern art!
caption: MODERN BUSINESS METHODS—Patron. “Didn’t I give you something in High Street this morning?” Artist. “Yes, Mum. I’ve a branch there.”
Published on the 1st September 1920: Social comment!
caption: THE DIE-HARD SCREEVER—Lieut.-Colonel Archer-Shee.
Published on the 19th July 1922: Comment on British army officer and Conservative Party politician Martin Archer-Shee.
Written and researched by Philip Battle
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