Inked: a snapshot of the last 200 years in cartoons

Posted on 7 March, 2019

Few can sum up the culture of the moment in one image better than cartoonists.

From the political landscape to the state of the economy, they have the ability to convey humour while providing a powerful insight into society at the time.

This will be celebrated in a new exhibition at the National Library of Australia, displaying the best Australian cartoons over the last 200 years.

From the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 up to the present day, Inked: Australian Cartoons draws from over 14,000 cartoons by our most celebrated artists, including Will Dyson, Judy Horacek, Michael Leunig, David Low, Phil May, Alan Moir, Bruce Petty, Martin Sharp, Cathy Wilcox and many more.

Curator and head of exhibitions Dr Guy Hanson says he began following cartoons before he could read, with his first taste of Australian politics through the eyes of Bruce Petty, Alan Moir and Ron Tandberg.

Over the years his passion for cartooning commentary never waned – he curated over a dozen cartoon exhibitions and published a number of cartoon anthologies.

Curator Guy Hanson

A historian by training, Guy believes that cartoons are one of the best resources for understanding Australia’s past while also providing the opportunity for a good laugh.

“The best cartoonists combine their skill as a graphic artist with insights into Australian society,” Dr Hanson says.

“It is not just a funny picture but a commentary on what is happening in our society.”

Dr Hanson says the exhibition shows just how much Australia has changed.

“There is early historical material from the Bulletin and Punch which is not often seen today,” he says.

“The sculptures in the show are also a lot of fun.”

Of course, the industry is not without controversy. A number of cartoonists have recently come under fire for what many say are racist or sexist images, for instance Mark Knight’s depiction of Serena Williams’ on-court outburst or the late Bill Leak’s cartoon that showed an Aboriginal father not knowing the name of his son.

It’s a precarious situation, with some commentators arguing that it’s an era of “outrage” which affects the freedom of our artists, while others say it’s reflective of the need for change.

“I think cartoonists themselves are becoming more aware of what impact their images can have,” Dr Hanson says.

“The depiction of women, migrants and aboriginal people have all changed dramatically.”

The exhibition also takes into account our younger generation, with a special children’s area to encourage them to draw their own cartoons and express their own ideas about Australia.

“The cartoons we have selected still resonate today,” Guy says.

“Sometimes it is the beautiful artwork or the incisive commentary or just whimsy but they still work as images.”

The essentials

What: Inked: Australian Cartoons
Where: National Library of Australia, Parkes Place
When: 7 March – 21 July 2019, 10am – 5pm
How much: Free
Web: nla.gov.au/inked-australian-cartoons

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Photos provided