Carlos Latuff: A controversial cartoonist

Carlos Latuff is a well known Brazilian freelance cartoonist. Carlos Latuff has been recognized as a supporter of socialism, peace, secularism. Carlos Latuff has always condemned capitalist economic reforms, American intervention and has also contributed many cartoons on the Isareli-Palestinian issue. Many of his cartoons created controversies and provoked debates.

Carlos Latuff's latest cartoon commenting on US and Russia agreement on Syria issue. Courtesy Carlos Latuff's personal blog

Carlos Latuff 

Carlos Latuff is an anti establishment cartoonist. He has attacked imperialistic powers with his strokes and words. Latuff often criticizes Israel for its stand on Palestine; he refers Israeli government as the Neo-Nazi which focuses on finishing up their enemy violently and brutally. Latuff visited the Israel Palestine area in late 90’s which changed his view about the issue. Latuff drew many cartoons in his `We are all Palestinians’ cartoon strip series. In this series Latuff even criticized and exposed foreign interests of many leaders such as USA president George Bush, Birtish PM Tony Bliar, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Latuff got support from many freedom loving groups for this movement. For his criticism on Israel, Latuff has been criticized as an anti Jew.

Carlos Latuff has also worked extensively on the US-Iraq war issue. He ran ‘Tales of Iraq War` cartoon series in the newspapers, magazines and on his online blog. Latuff condemned how western powers are dominating their policies on Middle East.

Carlos publishes his cartoons on the independent media website and on his blog. His work also been picked by Brazilian publications like Mad, Le Monde Diplomatique and the The Toronto Star. Some Arab websites and publication such as Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance (JAMI) magazine, the Saudi magazine Character, the Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar also prints Carlo’s cartoons.

Mustafa Hussein: An artist from Egypt

Mustafa Hussein is an Egyptian cartoonist. After receiving a degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Mustafa Hussein decided to pursue his career in cartooning.  Not only concluding his career option on cartooning, Mustafa went to become painter, artist, and journalist. Mstafa’s work is so flawless that universities like Oxford and Cambridge have felicitated him with certificate of appreciation.

Mustafa Hussein published Caricature, a cartoon magazine with the help of his cartoonist friend Ahmed Toughan. Together, they worked on many issues. Working in a hardcore Islamic country like Egypt often caused him trouble. Recently, in his editorial cartoon in local Akhbar al-Youm, Mustafa Hussein made satirical comment on Salafi movement amongst Sunni Muslims. Local volunteers working for Salafi movement openly hacked publications website and threaten not to publish such comments and cartoons again.

Unemployment, Al Akhbar newspaper, 2007

Mustafa Hussein is least bothered about such reactions and working as per his capacity and creativity. Hussein has bagged many prestigious awards for his works, the Gold Award for Duke of Edinburgh, The Order of Distinction, First Class as well as the State Incentive Award.  Hussein has always received certificate of excellence by an award given by International Festival of Cinema.

Alan Moir: A visionary Australian cartoonist

 Alan Moir is a famous Australian cartoonist. Alan Moir born in 1945, in a small village in New Zealand made his way to Australia in early 70’s to get better career opportunities. Alan Moir worked for The Bulletein, Courier Mail publications and since year 1984 he has been the Chief Editorial Cartoonists for the Sydney Morning.

Alan Moir's cartoon on oil price hike in Australia using Popeye cartoon

Alan Moir has won many awards for his enormous contribution to the art cartooning. Moir has conquered "Australian Editorial Cartoonist of the Year" six times and ", a Churchill Fellowship in 1999, Walkley award for Political Cartooning in 2000 and 2006 and the UN Award for Political Cartooning in 2004. Moir has several times used Popeye cartoon in his editorial cartoons for central figure to convey message.

Alan Moir

 Alan Moir has been taking secular and liberal stands with his cartoons by which is got international fame.  His cartoons now are in private collection of UN former Secretary General, Kofi Annan. Moir has also written many novels. Currently, Alan Moir is living a peaceful life with his family in Sydney. 

Master of all arts: Antonio Mingote

It is said that a picture speaks more than thousand words. It simply states that through a picture one can give more effective message but what happens when words and picture are equally effective?  Answer is magic. Mingote created such magic through his art. Antonio Mingote was a cartoonist, a journalist, an author, a theater person, and director of an animation film, an actor and what not.  Antonio Mingote like bigwig artist has contributed to Spanish artworks by all means.

Don Antonio Mingote Barrachina took birth on 17 January 1919. Antonio Mingote, popularly known as Mingote spent his childhood days in Daroca, Catalayud, Teruel and Zaragoza. Antonio Mingote took admission to study Philosophy and Arts at the University of Zaragoza, which he left in 1944 to settle in Madrid.

 In 1946, Antonio Mingote began his professional career with the then most popular weekly graphic humor magazine “La Codorniz”. After joining Antonio Mingote soon published his first novel, “Las palmeras de carton”. Antonio Mingote also edited the humorous magazine called “Don José”. In 1953, Antonio Mingote started working in “ABC news” the oldest and third largest (in Spain) Spanish newspaper. He was famous for his satirical and ironic stands which reflected from his cartoons.

Antonio Mingote designed sets and costumes for the musical comedy show “Ven y ven Eslava”; he did not stop here, he was also the artistic director for the 2002 animated film “Puerta del tiempo”.  “La Venganza de don Mendo” was very famous show in Spain, scenery and costumes of the show were brainchilds of Antonio Mingote.

Cartoon related to the 1962 NASA expeditions By Antonio Mingote

Antonio Mingote art work beautifully captured centuries of change in Spanish society, living habits. His cartoons were critical but they were not skeptical. Antonio Mingote used more ink and stronger lines in his cartoons to give kind of impact the message demanded as noted down by his art critics. Antonio Mingote employed sharper outlines with clearer strokes to portray exact character. Antonio Mingote was master of words as well as lines. Throughout his lifetime he achieved numerous awards like Gold Medal of the Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid, Knight's Cross of the Order of Isabella la Católica, National Journalism Award, Gold Medal for Merit in Work, Quevedos Spanish-American Prize for graphic humour Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts.   Antonio Mingote passed away in 2012 leaving legacy of not only cartoons but creative artwork.

Kari Soumalainen: A fine Finnish cartoonist

 If a person has very good experience, in depth knowledge and knows the art of convincing his opinions then that person most likely to be taken seriously than others.  Power centers seek comfort level to that person and avoid conflict; if power centers fail to do this then they just try to shut him/her up.  When Finish cartoonist Kari Soumalainen, exposed The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics then USSR did every possible thing to silence his art.

Kari Soumalainen started to work for the newspaper called Helsingin Sanomat in 1951. This newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat was under political censorship by the Russian authorities, prompted by the paper's strong advocacy of greater Finnish freedoms and even outright independence. Kari Soumalainen was famous for comments on the social happenings by skillfully using stereotypes and letting people feel mighty things as common by his cartoons. He tried to reduce power distance by cartoons. For an example USSR who was dominant world power, considered as the second world that used to bully Finland in her policies. Kari Soumalainen in many of his cartoons showed fallacy in USSR approach toward small region like Finland.  TIME magazine praised this Kari Soumalainen‘s effort by commenting following thing for an article dedicated to his work,`( Kari Soumalainen ‘s cartoons) set Finland's political leaders to quaking in their boots, and delighted his countrymen by seeing Red with a sharp satiric eye.’ . Kari Soumalainen when got commended for this work he said that it was his duty to be an anti-communist.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Finland was beginning a new era in its history without any restrictions from the east specially USSR.  Kari criticized very strongly on the decision to open doors to immigrants and war refugees, Somalis in particular (he drew them in a fashion that left little doubt of his opinions concerning blacks in general and Somalis in particular).

Kari Soumalainen‘s cartoons changed the way people looked at the political parties in Finland. Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland; was his favorite model to draw cartoon on.  Kari Soumalainen man of principles stopped drawing cartoons on him when Urho Kaleva Kekkonen became president in 1956 by abiding "unwritten law" forbidding caricaturing the president.

(translation)You can no longer travel safely in this city. Context is missing. You can spot two of Kari's signature cartoons right corner, walking on the street.

In his professional career, Kari Soumalainen left the main stream publication for ideological difference with their editorial line. Kari Soumalainen started working for local publication. Kari Suomalainen also wrote crime stories. He authored a book which features three short stories about inspector Wilson that were published in the Finnish pulp magazine, Lukemista Kaikille. Later Kari Suomalainen’s cartoons became monotonous and old fashioned as per his critics. However Kari Suomalainen was brilliant in peak professional time, he has set moral, ideological guidelines for future Finnish artists. Not only Finland but world will remember his contribution to Finnish patriotism. 

Jean Plantureux: A Peace Loving Cartoonist

Decision making plays very important role in a life. Many eminent personalities in the world took different profession in their early phase and changed it after realizing their talent and achieved remarkable position.  Jean Plantureux famous cartoonists from France also chose medical line on his parent’s advice. Later he changed by recognizing an art within him; he became a cartoonist.  Now today he has 3 postal stamps designed for charity, PhD theses on his work done, cartoons published by UNESCO and number of exhibitions around the world.

Jean Plantureux working on cartoons

Jean Plantureux after leaving the medical course, took admission in `Institut Saint-Luc’ an arts school in Brussels, Belgium for a drawing course. Jean Plantureux , also known by professional name 'Plantu', took a course of three years in the art school but could complete only three months due to money problem. Jean Plantureux (Plantu) discovered his passion and liking for political satirical cartoons in this period. Plantu approached several papers to give him a job, finally he got job in `Le Monde’, a French newspaper.  

Jean Plantureux's first cartoon

Jean Plantureux’s (Plantu) first professional published drawing was a peace dove having a question make in its beak. That picture was in the context of Vietnam War and peace talks that were on hold at the time. Jean Plantureux always advocated peace through his cartoons.  Mr. Plantu is a strong advocate of the freedom of speech but he says when my cartoon might led to burning places and danger to many lives then I must think before publishing.

1991 was the peak point of Jean Plantureux’s career when he did which many cartoonists can only dream of.  Mostly editorial cartoons create controversies and fights, but by Jean Plantureux’s cartoon, commenting and advocating peace for Israel and Lebanon, created history.  Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli foreign affairs minister Shimon Peres both signed on cartoon drew by Jean Plantureux. From then peace talks began smoothly.

‘The Political Significance of the Cartoons of Plantu (1972-2000)’ is a French thesis paper written on Jean Plantureux cartoons.  French postal service came up with 3 postal stamps designed by Jean Plantureux. French postal department wanted to raise money for Médecins Sans Frontières, an international humanitarian organization; so they published 3 stamps designed by Jean Plantureux.  It worked well.

Now after achieving so much in cartooning, Jean Plantureux wants to take his art to the every loop and corner of the world.  Jean Plantureux took an initiative to arrange first international conference of news cartoonists to help cartoonists all over the world to work better.

Man can be understood by his beliefs.  Jean Plantureux said in one of his interviews that we cartoonists should show the reader that we respect their beliefs. I think cartoonists should stop thinking they can be anarchists - they should think of themselves as drawing journalists and be aware of their responsibilities.  I admire provocateurs but you've got to be clever and know how far you can go. This is enough to know the greatness of Jean Plantureux.

Chris Slane: A New Age Cartoonists

Till now, we have seen old school cartoonist who only used to draw cartoons and in magazines, newspapers but today we are going read about new age cartoonists who is not only a editorial cartoonist but also an author, a storyboard artist, a puppet artist, an illustration artist and a comic creator. I am talking about Chris Slane, a cartoonist from New Zealand.

Christ Slane

Chris took Bachelor of Town Planning degree from the University of Auckland. He used to contribute for the student magazine ‘Craccum’. Mr. Slane was fascinated by the War Picture Library and the Disney artwork by Mr. Bark. Slane used to visit his classmates house which was full on British War comics, his friend got bored but Slane continued to visit and enjoyed the art. Slane was so mesmerized by the artwork; he said in his one of interview that, “I spent hours in there looking at the great detailed art”.

Slane’s cartoons have been appearing in the NZ Listener magazine since 1991. He worked for many comic books like 'Maui: Legends Of The Outcast’, which tells a story of a mythological character popular in New Zealand ', 'Nice Day For A War: Adventures of A Kiwi Soldier in WW1’ which tells the war story in comical and interesting way

Nice day for a war comic by Slane and Elliott

, Maori history, legends and a contribution to Dark Horse Comics' Star Wars Tales. Slane also co-creator of the puppet troupe 'Hands Up', Slane wrote, constructed and performed satirical items for Television New Zealand's 'Tonight Show', designed and performed puppet characters for the children's series 'Space Knights' as mentioned on his website, www.slane.co.nz.  Slane has also contributed to the field by writing an essay named, "The Role of Cartoons in Town Planning". Slane first did cartoons for New Zealand Privacy Commissioner where his father was working; he now also draws for big corporations like Microsoft who are very keen about privacy policies.

When someone questions him about relativity of his cartoons he answers,’ People enjoy the act of recognition. It's about simplifying reality, taking out the essential elements and reproducing them. I think that's in all art – something we recognize that we're hard-wired to appreciate’. Slane who credits his experience in the field for the successful survival over the years in different areas related to media, frankly tells, he started his career in New Zealand when change was happening in the media. This boosted his career. Now Slane presents his cartoon to millions virtual viewers online, he has separate Facebook Page for all his major works in comics,he communicates via twitter(@Slanecartoons), a website and a blog. He even gives opportunity to purchase his art work online. These all things surely make him a new age cartoonist.

Chris Slane Cartoon on Whistle -Blower Act

Do you think presence on all the media is major factor of Slane's success?

Patrick Oliphant : An Evergreen Cartoonist

Mr.Patrick Bruce Oliphant was born in July 24 1935 in Australia. He is popularly known as “pat”. Mr. Oliphant’s career started as a copy boy with the Adelaide News. He used to do all the small works related to copy in the ‘Adelaide News’. This gave him much needed experience. Later he worked as a staff cartoonist in the Adelaide Advertising before shifting to America.

Mr.Patrick Bruce Oliphant

Mr. Oliphant got job in ‘The Denver Post’ in America. He replaced, Paul Conrad in the paper and brought his own style. Later in life he moved to the ‘Washington Post’ paper. American professional cartoonists Jack Ohman describes him as a,” one who (Mr.Patrick Bruce Oliphant) created a sensation here because he combined a brilliant writing style with a very accessible, bold line stroke that shattered the standard cartoon tropes of elephants, donkeys, ticking time bombs, and furrowed-brow Uncle Sam. Oliphant threw stones when a lot of his peers were throwing sponges”.

Patrick Bruce Oliphant’s worked for more than 50 years; still he kept fresh approach of looking towards the happenings and his work. Oliphant has influence of great cartoonist Illingworth, Low, and Searle in his work. “Punk the penguin” was his signature cartoon. Mr. Oliphant says so many cartoonists draw the same year after year, when they find a style, they stick with it. They don't mess with innovation, and they become boring. He adopted new styles in order keep freshness in his cartoons. Oliphant calls himself a liberal ideologically. Today he is considered as one of the founding fathers of modern American political cartoons.

Credit-http://www.loc.gov/

Oliphant won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning in 1966 with this cartoon showing  Ho Chi Minh, president of North Vietnam, carrying a dead Vietnam soldier. By 1966 there were 190,000 American troops in South Vietnam, and North Vietnam was receiving military support from the USSR and other Communist states. North Vietnam was asking South Vietnam to denounce US support to begin with peace talks. This picture not just talks about the war but also tells how Americans were looking at Vietnam War. By showing dead soldier and laughing general shows that North Vietnam cocky and irresponsible attitude as perceived by American society and as a cartoonist.

Oliphant weds two great traditions in political cartooning: the subtle wit and detailed artistry of the British tradition with the more blunt, spare style that persists in America as critique by ‘Library of Congress’ at their website(www. loc.gov/exhibits/oliphant/oliphant.html). At the Library of Congress his cartoons and sketchbooks will be preserved alongside the most extensive collection of American political prints in existence. When asked how it feels to be winner of the ’Pulitzer Prize’, the ‘National Cartoonist Society Editorial Cartoon Award’, the ‘Reuben Award, the ‘Thomas Nat Prize’, Mr. Oliphant politely replied, “I can always see what I've done wrong. I'm always learning. I'm the perennial student”.

Oliphant sustained successfully in the field over 50 years; so going by above note on him, what made him contemporary cartoonists more than 50 years?

Cartoonist who fought against Fascists

Many times in a life, we often come across persons who have created a new way of dealing with the subject without having formal education of the one, Sir David Low was one of them. Without having the formal education Sir David Low created wonders in the field of editorial cartoons. Sir David Low is considered as the greatest cartoonist of 20^th century. Sir David Low became role model for many artists all over the world, not only by his strokes, but also his fearless expression of creativity.

Sir David Low was an extra ordinarily creative as well as a studious kid. He used to study for so long that Low was taken out of the school, as his parents believed that he had been weakened by over studying. Low’s used to draw cartoons for his hobby. His first cartoon published in the British comic book called “Big Budget”, when he was just 11 years old. Interestingly Sir Low was first attracted towards the field of cartooning and caricatures by seeing British comics only.

Low worked for the Sydney Bulletin in Australia, later went to London to pursue his career. Sir Low also worked in the Canterbury Times where he got popularity due to his cartoons on William Hughes, the then prime minister of Australia

Low joined the Star, a London evening paper. This paper gave enough freedom to Sir Low. His cartoons in this period were influenced by left-wing thoughts. In 1927 he joined the Evening Standard as a political cartoonist. He made it clear before joining that, there would be no editorial interference in his work. The Evening Standard’s management also agreed and assured Mr. Low to give complete artistic freedom and to give dedicated half a page for his cartoons. This helped Mr. Low a lot in order to work on the concept as well as to sketch a cartoon detailing many things. Low’s many legendary characters like the Two-headed Ass, the TUC carthorse, and the Colonel Blimp are created in this period

Every artist needs an opportunity or an event to express his creative capabilities fully. Second World War gave such to the Sir Low. Disregarding the fact the Fascist forces were power in the beginning, Low continued to make fun of the Fascist by showing hollowness in their ideology. Sir Low’s cartoons on Fascist forces were so hard hitting that, the Hitler added his name in ‘A Black Book’, a list comprises of the persons to be punished after winning the allies. Even after getting threats, censor notices from various important persons he continued to fight a war against the Fascists. In a broader sense, Sir Low’s cartoon reduced the fear about the Hitler and gave kind of confidence which was needed.

Sir David Low's cartoon depicting Hitler dancing over the democracies due to spineless leaders.

 Sir Low used to describe himself as a nuisance dedicated to sanity. Being a cartoonist it is sometimes necessary to create inconvenience for the things which could harm the larger interest. So, Sir David Low, in his 50 years of career created such nuisances for evils with his 14,000 drawings and inspired many to do so. Sir David Low, showed not just an art but a fearless way to fight mighty enemy that too democratically, that is priceless!

So what you think, what are the reason due to which Sir David Low was seen as threat to Nazis?

Bal Thackray : A cartoonist who sketched an ideology

We have always seen him as a firm leader addressing the masses,we also know him as a cartoonist.His cartoonist mindset helped him to address people with proper words on appropriate timing for example his reactions were spontaneous and courageous. He began his career as a freelance cartoonist and ended up becoming supremo of a major political party ' Shivsena'. His way to becoming Hindu Hrudaysamrat (king of Hindu hearts ) goes through his canvas ,yes we are talking about Bal Thackray popularly known as "Balasaheb".

Mr. Bal Thackray in his early days in Free Press Journal 

Living in small town called Bhiwandi , his father first observed his child's liking towards drawing and encouraged as well as guided him. His father Mr.Keshav Thackary gifted him a brush which was first of his life, buying a brush was costly affair that time as told by Bal Thackray  in one of his interviews. Bal Thackrays's father Mr.Keshav Thackeray who was also a writer and socialite,used to ask him,"did you draw anything in a day?",after coming home in the evening from his office. Bal Thackray used to observe the cartoons published in the' Times of India 'and try to imitate them. Every day,after returning from his office, father Mr.Keshav Thackray used to compare the cartoons published in' The Times of India' and cartoons by his son.In 1945 Bal Thackray started working in the'Free Press Journal' as a cartoonist, left in 1947 due to some issues with the management. After that he started working for the magazine called ' Film India ',in those days he was also freelancing. Bal Thackray came back to 'Free Press Journal' on 1952 on the special request by ex-editor and also major shareholder of the 'Free Press Journal'  Mr.S. Sadanand  '. Mr. Sadanand made special request to Bal Thackray to rejoin the 'Free Press Journal 'and offered him to pay him heavily. Later working in Free Press, managing director, A.B. Nair once intervened and censored Bal Thackrays cartoons drew on Minu Masani and S.K.Patil prominent leaders of those days. Thackray got angry and asked the peon to type resignation note and submit it to management, and went home.(Bal Thackray used make fun of his name by saying there is AB in his name but does not know ABC of journalism being managing director of the one).

In early sixties Bal Thackray started the magazine called Marmik (subtle) along with his brother Mr.Shrikant Thackray.The name was suggested by his father. Magazine was started with an intention of business through entertaining the people by caricatures and cartoons. It was first such experiment in Marathi language. It quickly became hit due to its sarcastically funny language, social message, funny comments on contemporary happenings and the most important cartoons. Kumar Ketkar, the eminent journalist said in his interview after the demise of Mr.Bal Thackray that, "there was the time when people used to eagerly wait for the magazine".The magazine then started publishing atrocities on Maharashtrians in their own city, later it became campaign and Shivsena the political party formed by going magazine campaign via moment via agitation  route.

Bal Thackray's cartoons were fun along with creative copies. Thackray's bold personality expressed in his caricatures,his lines and strokes were more confident,bold and firm compared to his brother's cartoons,as per his nephew and cartoonist Raj Thackray. Bal Thackray had an ideology which reflected through his cartoons, his ideology was of his father's and of social realism. Bal Thackray was very much impressed by his father's work on social issues which always reflected through Bal Thackray's work.
Bal Thackray was famous for his detailing in cartoons, if he has to draw a bus stop he used to draw what are possible things present around a bus stop and he was opposed to generalizing. Sketching was more important for him than inking. Indira Gandhi was one of his favorite models for cartoon. Thackray used to show her nose longer than normal. He always wanted to take proper education in cartooning but somehow it did not happen then he was happy when his nephew Raj Thackray learnt from the 'JJ school of Arts'. Bal Thackeray's cartoons helped him to form a movement which later turned to political party.Thackray's some of the work , selected by the book "Churchill biography in cartoons ".He himself said once, I became Shivsena supremo only because of my cartoons.He criticized people heavily through his cartoons but always maintained good relations in person. He took forward the legacy of criticizing in funny as well as sarcastic way of his father. Lets hope such legacy of  cartoons will also prevail by many of his fans and fellow artists.



  (Credit http://media.indiatimes.in )