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

"Okay then, you try holding the nuclear briefcase steady!"

Print
2003 (made), 18/11/2003 (printed and published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This cartoon appeared in the Evening Standard on 18 November 2003, and is artist Marf's take on the current news story. As she describes it: 'One of the most memorable images of Bush’s state visit to London is his extraordinary motorcade, which would put any South American dictator to shame. Many Londoners turn out to catch a glimpse of it, but excitement soon turns to commuter fury as roads are closed without warning “for security reasons”. The motorcade, flanked by bodyguards running alongside the armoured cars, is the talk of the town, and appears in all the papers, with extensive graphics and photographs.'

'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"Okay then, <i>you</i> try holding the nuclear briefcase steady!" (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink on paper
Brief description
Reproduction of a cartoon, "Okay then, you try holding the nuclear briefcase steady!" by 'Marf' (Martha Richler), published in The Evening Standard, 18th November 2003; London.
Physical description
This is a print of a black and white line drawn cartoon. The scene shows a procession of cars and walking security men in suits, some wearing sunglasses. Inside the first car a woman in peaked hat hands a birefcase over to the male driver. There is a road sign warning of speed bumps.
Dimensions
  • Height: 21cm
  • Width: 29.6cm
  • Image size height: 13.7cm
  • Image size width: 18cm
Production typeCopy
Marks and inscriptions
  • EVENING STANDARD 18 NOVEMBER 2003 (Top left, printed)
  • "Okay then, you try holding the nuclear briefcase steady!" (Across bottom; title to piece, printed)
  • MARF (Artist signature bottom right of image, reproduced)
  • SPEED / BUMPS / NEXT 3/4 MILE (Road sign, part of image)
  • BUMP (Three times, part of image)
  • [Eveni]ng Standard / BUSH / ARRIVES / TONIGHT (News headline, part of image)
  • LONDON / A-Z (Book title, part of image)
  • 29 (Written in biro top right)
  • WASHINGTON. DC (Car number plate, part of image)
  • PRESIDENT (Label on briefcase, part of image)
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 18 November 2003, and is artist Marf's take on the current news story. As she describes it: 'One of the most memorable images of Bush’s state visit to London is his extraordinary motorcade, which would put any South American dictator to shame. Many Londoners turn out to catch a glimpse of it, but excitement soon turns to commuter fury as roads are closed without warning “for security reasons”. The motorcade, flanked by bodyguards running alongside the armoured cars, is the talk of the town, and appears in all the papers, with extensive graphics and photographs.'

'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.388-2007

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Record createdSeptember 3, 2007
Record URL
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