Would You Oblige Me with a Match Please? c. 1938

David Low made this cartoon, "Would You Oblige Me with a Match Please?" with ink and crayon. What I like about Low's way of working is how he doesn't seem to sweat the small stuff, just gets the line down, quick and sure. The funny thing about political cartoons is their immediacy, they are made in response to something very specific, but great ones like this have a timeless quality. Look at the way he renders the figures, not trying to be subtle, the bodies outlined with purpose. The guy representing 'Dictatorship' is drawn with strong outlines and solid crayon shading, whereas 'Democracy' is all spindly and striped. The black ink gives definition, and the crayon adds color without fuss, giving a sense of depth and texture. The overall composition is really effective, each element playing its part in a tense moment! Like all great art, the cartoon offers no easy answers, only ambiguity, and multiple interpretations.