Martin Rowson

Martin Rowson's work is improving. There is less of an Eighteenth Century murk and heaviness of symbolism. It seems that he is beginning to understand how modern satire works and is used by the newspaper reader. Low, Trog, and Vicky all understood-in most of their best moments, that something akin to a poster effect is needed. Most people don't spend more than a few seconds looking at a cartoon. The message must be immediately understandable.

The cartoon above Guardian (20/01/12)  is actually one of Rowson's more complex works. You need to read the reversed text to get the message about the workshy. And IDS-prepares the targets which the  daft duumvirs in the background are about to target. Their economic pig looks most unlikely to fly. The composition is excellent.But I have to say that on the whole, Rowson's work seems best to me when it is most like that of the Great Bell. Rowson's drawing is not as strong as Bell's but he is getting there. The Guardian obviously has a tradition of allowing their cartoonists time to develop their graphics. Bell was pretty ropey in the early days.Ropey but full of life.

I predict great misery throughout the land. The fuss about the "reforms" will not be over by election time.
They said that Mr Cameron was worried that folk still thought of the Tories as the nasty party. Is he schizoid or what?