Meet Michael Leunig
By now you will know of the depth of my appreciation for political cartoonists and artists: David Baldinger, Andy Singer, Khalil Bendib and other luminaries who say it all so skilfully and superbly with a picture or a cartoon. Though I have featured his cartoons here before and he is well known here in Australia (nominated as a National Living Treasure, in fact!), it has been my pleasure to have introduced the hand of Michael Leunig to some of you.
Leunig’s cartoons are often wry, gently humorous and whimsical commentaries on life; his more overtly political cartoons have also struck a chord and landed him in trouble (see below ‘On Israel’). His ardent peace and anti-war stance has often put him in the line of fire with critics, though his integrity to his principles has won him fans anew.
As well as being a cartoonist, poet and artist, Leunig also pens the occasional article (selection below).
I feature a selection of his cartoons here. For now, I’ll refrain from writing anything other than this short preamble and let his cartoons speak for themselves. For those interested, his biography can be found here at his website.
Articles (selection) by Leunig
* Lest we forget the ultimate price of warfare, The Age, 23 April 2005
* The cartoonists’ lot: holding the mirror to a fractured world, The Age, 13 January 2006
* They know not what they do, The Age, 10 Feb 2007
Previously featured on Reclaiming Space (thumb-nail—click on image for full size):
Understandascope :: Interview with Mt Everest :: Nip a movement
Ban the Business Burqa
More Leunig cartoons
On Australian Militarism
On the Australian-American Relationship
Various
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
On Palestine
On Israel
On Iraq: a parallel to the present situation
Too funny. I’ve often wondered if there’s a correlation between “civilization” and tranquilizers.
The personals are brilliant.
Thanks, Ann, Michael Leunig is very talented. It seems that he really has different styles and techniques!
He must have his own website, no? Would you have a link? Love his work!
Thanks, Serv., indeed one wonders at the correlation. Glad you liked his other work.
Ben, thanks very much. Well, you’re far more qualified to describe the styles and techniques. :) He’s not as well known overseas as he is here so its good to introduce him to others previously unfamiliar with his thirty-odd year span of work. Appreciate you coming by!
Richard, good to see you. The website is at http://www.leunig.com.au/
If you poke around there’s a cartoons page which is particularly worth visiting as well as a link to his numerous books. I have a few and they are heartily recommended.
His biography is here: http://www.leunig.com.au/biography/ and a search engine search on his name should yield some interesting results.
Thanks for coming by.
Pingback: Leunig cartoons - Religious Education Forum