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Paul Robeson

Cartoon
1933 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of many pen and Indian ink cartoons drawn by William Kerridge Haselden (1872-1953) and reproduced in the magazine Punch from 1906 until 1936. Haselden was a self-taught artist who produced both political and theatrical cartoons, originally for Sovereign magazine from 1902-1903 and in 1904 for the next 31 years for the Daily Mirror. He was offered a knighthood by Stanley Baldwin but turned it down because he 'didn't want all that fuss'.

Paul Robeson (1898-1976) is depicted in the leading role of Jim Harris in Eugene O'Neill's play All God's Chillun Got Wings which opened at London's Embassy Theatre on 13 March 1933. Paul Robeson gave a moving performance as the generous-hearted African-American who struggles against racism and the abuse of his neurotic white wife, played by Flora Robson. Critics agreed that Mr Robeson and Miss Robson made a perfect dramatic partnership.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePaul Robeson (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink on drawing board
Brief description
Cartoon of Paul Robeson in All God's Chillun Got Wings, Embassy Theatre, 13 March 1933. Pen and ink by W.K. Haselden (1872-1944), for Punch magazine, 22 March 1933.
Physical description
Pen and black ink cartoon, on Roberson's Fashion Board, of Paul Robeson standing, three quarter length. He wears an open-necked white shirt and black trousers and looks dejected, his hands by his sides and his head hanging down.
Dimensions
  • Height: 27.2cm
  • Width: 19.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Robeson Agonistes (Inscribed in pencil recto, under the image of Paul Robeson.)
  • 1. Column width (Inscribed verso in blue crayon)
  • 150. Embassy 13th March 1933 (Inscribed in red ink verso)
  • 3937 (Inscribed in pencil verso)
  • Enthoven Collection VAM (Stamped in red verso)
  • Roberson's Fashion Board 'B' Surface. C.Roberson & Co. Ltd., 99 Long Acre & 155-156 Piccadilly, London (Roberson's logo with image and details of sizes of the various drawing boards verso.)
Credit line
Given by the British Theatre Museum Association
Object history
Eugene O'Neill's play All God's Chillun Got Wings opened at the Embassy Theatre, 13 March 1933, with Paul Robeson as Jim Harris and Flora Robson as Ella.

This is one of a collection of drawings by W.K. Haselden given to the British Theatre Museum Association by Derek Pepys-Whiteley.
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
This is one of many pen and Indian ink cartoons drawn by William Kerridge Haselden (1872-1953) and reproduced in the magazine Punch from 1906 until 1936. Haselden was a self-taught artist who produced both political and theatrical cartoons, originally for Sovereign magazine from 1902-1903 and in 1904 for the next 31 years for the Daily Mirror. He was offered a knighthood by Stanley Baldwin but turned it down because he 'didn't want all that fuss'.

Paul Robeson (1898-1976) is depicted in the leading role of Jim Harris in Eugene O'Neill's play All God's Chillun Got Wings which opened at London's Embassy Theatre on 13 March 1933. Paul Robeson gave a moving performance as the generous-hearted African-American who struggles against racism and the abuse of his neurotic white wife, played by Flora Robson. Critics agreed that Mr Robeson and Miss Robson made a perfect dramatic partnership.
Associated object
S.220-2008 (Object)
Other number
1960/W/4 - BTMA accession number
Collection
Accession number
S.221-2008

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Record createdJuly 22, 2008
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