Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F , Case I, Shelf 139, Box II

"Just how many lives does this guy have?"

Drawing
2004 (made), 11/05/2004 (printed and published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This cartoon appeared in the Evening Standard on 11 May 2004, and is artist Marf's take on the current news story. As she describes it: 'Political commentators sharpen their knives as Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon faces a grilling by MPs over his role in the invasion of Iraq. But he plays the boredom card, avoids eye-contact, and does his best to act like the dull civil servant who merely follows orders. As Hoon stonewalls the Commons, not even the eagle-eyed press can pin him down, and Hoon slips the net – again.'

'Marf' drew daily topical cartoons for the Evening Standard between March 2002 and August 2005, moving to the Londoner's Diary page in August 2003. The drawings cover key political and social issues of the period, providing a vivid and often hilarious response to the main news of the day. The Evening Standard is London's only evening newspaper, publishing up to five editions a day. In Marf's own words: 'The cartoonist needs to keep up with the rapid pace of event.'


Object details

Categories
Object type
Title"Just how many lives does this guy have?" (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink on paper
Brief description
Cartoon, "Just how many lives does this guy have?" by 'Marf' (Martha Richler), published in The Evening Standard, 11th May 2004; London.
Physical description
Black and white line drawn cartoon showing a probably London streetscene. Two cats walk past a news headline which is propped up against a wall. A lamp-post, garden square and a variety of architecture from mansion house to office blocks can be seen in the background. A plastic cup and paper napkin lie abandoned on the windowsill next to the headline.

Some lines have been blocked out with liquid paper, and faint underdrawing can be seen.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.6cm
  • Width: 42cm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Tuesday 11th of May (Written in pen top left)
  • "Just how many lives does this guy have?" (Written in pen across bottom; title to piece)
  • MARF (Artist signature bottom right of image)
  • 18 [in circle] (Written in black biro twice on transparent protective sheet, top right and bottom right)
  • Evening Standard / HOON / STONEWALLS / COMMONS / OVER / IRAQ (News headline on board, part of image)
  • '04 (Written in pencil, bottom right)
Credit line
Given by the artist
Object history
Donated by the artist.
Production
Attribution note: for publication in newspaper
Reason For Production: Commission
Subjects depicted
Summary
This cartoon appeared in the Evening Standard on 11 May 2004, and is artist Marf's take on the current news story. As she describes it: 'Political commentators sharpen their knives as Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon faces a grilling by MPs over his role in the invasion of Iraq. But he plays the boredom card, avoids eye-contact, and does his best to act like the dull civil servant who merely follows orders. As Hoon stonewalls the Commons, not even the eagle-eyed press can pin him down, and Hoon slips the net – again.'

'Marf' drew daily topical cartoons for the Evening Standard between March 2002 and August 2005, moving to the Londoner's Diary page in August 2003. The drawings cover key political and social issues of the period, providing a vivid and often hilarious response to the main news of the day. The Evening Standard is London's only evening newspaper, publishing up to five editions a day. In Marf's own words: 'The cartoonist needs to keep up with the rapid pace of event.'
Collection
Accession number
E.371-2007

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Record createdAugust 31, 2007
Record URL
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