Mocking the twits of the 19th century

Twitter is a thorn in the side of the courts today, with the superinjunctions row, but in the early 19th century the publisher William Hone used the communications technology of his day — pamphlets and cartoons — to keep one step ahead of the law. Jonathan Freedland looks at these seditious cartoons, and takes a […]

Political cartoonist has it covered

Everyone needs a break from time to time, and when regular cartoonists on national papers take time off it’s an opportunity for others to cover for them and show what they can do. This week Gary Barker, a member of the PCO which runs the Bloghorn, is covering for Steve Bell at the Guardian. His […]

Osama jokes: The laughter of being alive

Over at the New Yorker blog, cartoon editor Bob Mankoff notes that Osama bin Laden had disappeared off their humour radar for a while, the 2007 cartoon above being his last appearance. He takes a look at Bin Laden cartoons down the years and notes that in the age of terrorism – and this is […]

Cartooning looks to the future

There’s no doubt that the news media is undergoing something of a traumatic transitional phase, as the move towards digital continues. But the people who make the cartoons that go with the news appear to have it even worse, particularly in America. As The Economist has noted, those at the forefront of news and comment […]

Cartooning on the Frontline

Photograph: Antje Bormann PCO member Martin Rowson delivered a talk on Caricatures and Commentary to the Frontline Club in London this week. In discussion with Radio 4’s Laurie Taylor Martin spoke about subjects ranging from his caricatures of patrons at the Gay Hussar restaurant to the abolition of the Licensing Act in 1695 and taking in […]

A trip to the twilight zone, and beyond

Here are a few interesting cartooning links to start your week. First, PCOer Martin Rowson, cartoon above, writes in today’s Guardian about the strange place that cartoonists occupy in the British media, and their love-hate relationship with editors: Cartoonists in the twilight zone But it’s all love from one former editor, David Yelland of The […]

Cause and effect: Cartoonists’ Showcase

“Double Dip and Toil and Trouble !!” by Nick Hayes, from the Guardian’s summer cartoonists showcase. As previously mentioned in Bloghorn, the Guardian is showcasing six up-and-coming cartoonists whilst regular incumbent Steve Bell is on his summer holidays. Since the last week of July, the cartoons of Anna Trench, Lou McKeever (aka Bluelou), Ben Jennings, Tanya […]

Political Cartooning Made Easy

Peter Brookes, political cartoonist for The Times, makes the art of political cartooning look easy. Watch a master at work in this short film. Absorb and weep, dear reader. Bloghorn notes: As The Times have recently started charging to view its website, to view the above link you will have to register – prices are £2 […]

Cartoon secrets revealed

News reaches Bloghorn of a couple of British cartoonists revealing the tricks of the trade. Firstly there’s The Times‘ Peter Brookes explaining how he’ll be caricaturing the party leaders in the upcoming General Election. On drawing the current Prime Minister: With Gordon Brown I’ll start with the hair, increasingly grey and much more coiffured these […]