This year marks Sir Winston Churchill’s 150th birthday, and the Imperial War Museum in London has opened a new exhibition to celebrate.
Churchill in Cartoons: Satirising a Statesman brings together 24 physical cartoons from publications worldwide between 1909 and 2003.
There are even a couple on display that were published in the Daily Express between 1944 and 1945, which you can view below.
The newly opened exhibition takes a close look at Churchill as a public figure throughout his life and beyond his time as prime minister.
The Imperial War Museum points out: “Churchill’s own attitude towards cartoons as a medium is also a fascinating subject to explore. Churchill himself was interested in cartoons, and even wrote an essay entitled ‘Cartoons and Cartoonists’ in 1932. He also collected various cartoons that he particularly liked, and communicated with some cartoonists. We understand that some cartoons angered or upset him, which further demonstrates how well he understood the importance of the medium and of the publications in which they were published, and particularly how they affected his public image.”
There’s also an interactive touch screen where you can look at how the World War 2 leader was portrayed in cartoons from countries around the globe.
Lead Curator Kate Clements said: “Almost 150 years after his birth, Churchill remains one of the best-known public figures in history. His distinctive image was a gift to satirical cartoonists and throughout his career, particularly during the Second World War, cartoons played a significant part in shaping how people thought of him. Through this exhibition, we offer visitors a new and different way of exploring Churchill’s complicated career and his enduring legacy.”
Churchill in Cartoons: Satirising a Statesman at the Imperial War Museum London is open now and closes on February 23, 2025.
