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How to Draw Cartoons > Political symbols

Symbols are the stock in trade of the political cartoonist. Nast invented the tiger as the representative of Tammany Hall. I already mentioned Kirby's undertaker. Will Johnstone invented a naked taxpayer clad only in a barrel. If you can invent symbols, so much the better. Here are some others which are standard equipment for the political cartoonist.

















This picture is called 'Stamping Him Out.' Him can be Crime, Bossism, TAXES or Unpreparedness -- provided the foot belongs to Uncle Sam or a reasonable facsimile. On the other hand, the foot can be the 'villain' marked 'Racketeering' in which case the fellow on the floor is labeled "Inadequate Police, The Law,' etc.





Here is "The Rising Tide," usually Public Indignation about to drown out Butch Caponi, Public Enemy No.1. The bolt of lightning might be the new Crime Commission appointed by the Governor.

Like a baseball pitcher, the political cartoonist sometimes uses a change of pace. He may alternate the seriousness of his work with drawings about Mother's Day, July Fourth, March of Dimes, Safety in Auto Driving, etc.



Political cartoonists' views of necessity have to coincide with that of their papers. If you worked for one paper, this is how your cartoon might look when the McGoof Bill on Armaments passed the House.



Here is what your cartoon might look like if you worked for a different paper.

Since politics is highly partisan, you're either on one side or the other, it is impossible for the political cartoonist to make everybody happy with his work. If you agree with his point of view you will think he is very highly gifted. If you disagree with him, you will think he has no talent at all. Everybody can love a comic strip artist. Not everybody can love a political cartoonist. If you want to be loved by everybody, don't become a political cartoonist. No easy job his. A Dale Carnegie in reverse, he influences people and loses friends!

Giants of the past and present worth studying are: Fitzpatrick, Low, Herblock, McCutcheon, Opper, Daumier, Talburt, T. E. Powers, Rollin Kirby, Duffy, and the political cartoonist in your favorite paper.



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