Image of Gallery in South Kensington
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"You know, maybe I won't be Prime Minister. Who needs the stress?"

Print
2003 (made), 22/10/2003 (printed and published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This cartoon appeared in the Evening Standard on 22 October 2003, and is artist Marf's take on the current news story. As she describes it: 'Blair experiences minor heart trouble and appears to be showing the strain of mounting criticism, although he remains as zealous and unrepentant as ever about his decision to go to war. His trip to Ulster is overshadowed by persistent questions about Iraq.'

'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"You know, maybe I won't be Prime Minister. Who needs the stress?" (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink on paper
Brief description
Reproduction of a cartoon, "You know, maybe I won't be Prime Minister. Who needs the stress?" by 'Marf' (Martha Richler), published in The Evening Standard, 22nd October 2003; London.
Physical description
This is a print of a black and white line drawn cartoon. The scene shows what looks to be a London square. A mother and father take their young daughter to or from school. The man is wrapped up in jacket, striped scarf and trousers. The woman is expensively dressed in long coat, trousers and high heeled boots. The girl wears a duffle coat and striped tights. She has pig-tails held up with hair bobbles. Both mother and daughter carry handbags, the daughters in the shape of a bear's head. The daughter speaks as the three pass by an Evening Standard news headline propped up against some railings while the parents look at her proudly. In the background are trees and buildings.
Dimensions
  • Height: 21cm
  • Width: 29.6cm
  • Image size height: 13.7cm
  • Image size width: 18cm
Production typeCopy
Marks and inscriptions
  • EVENING STANDARD 22 OCTOBER 2003 (Top left, printed)
  • "You know, maybe I won't be Prime Minister. Who needs the stress?" (Across bottom; title to piece, printed)
  • MARF (Artist signature bottom right of image, reproduced)
  • Evening Standard / BLAIR / TO ULSTER / DESPITE / HEART / SCARE (News headline, part of image)
  • 31 (Written in biro, top right)
Credit line
Given by the artist
Object history
Donated by the artist.
Production
Attribution note: reproduction by artist of original drawing
Subjects depicted
Summary
This cartoon appeared in the Evening Standard on 22 October 2003, and is artist Marf's take on the current news story. As she describes it: 'Blair experiences minor heart trouble and appears to be showing the strain of mounting criticism, although he remains as zealous and unrepentant as ever about his decision to go to war. His trip to Ulster is overshadowed by persistent questions about Iraq.'

'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.386-2007

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Record createdSeptember 3, 2007
Record URL
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