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.