The Citadel saved by the cackling of the Geese 

Curator: This is "The Citadel saved by the cackling of the Geese," a drawing by John Leech. It appears to be a print, rendered in ink. Editor: Oh, wow! What a frantic, scratchy scene! It feels medieval and mad, like everyone is fighting over, well, I’m not entirely sure what! Curator: Indeed, there's a frenetic energy in the piece, primarily achieved through the artist's distinctive use of line. The closely packed hatching and cross-hatching create a strong sense of depth and shadow. Editor: All these tiny, wiry lines do conjure depth and a real sense of claustrophobia. Look at the layering of all these bodies—a chaotic mass against a stark, simple backdrop of a walled city. It is very much a human anthill feeling—or is it bird-hill since we have the geese. Curator: Leech expertly uses caricature here, exaggerating facial features and body proportions to comedic effect. The scene teems with distinct characters, from the desperate soldiers scaling the wall to the alarmed faces of those within the citadel. Editor: I can almost hear their panic! The geese really stand out too—so serene, almost comical in contrast to the absolute chaos unfolding around them. They look like they could start biting at any moment and maybe they have been if that made it to this situation. And what is the big balloon shaped object that someone is holding? Curator: It does appear to be an object made from fabric filled with air, similar to a bladder, or perhaps meant to represent a rudimentary war-balloon. Note the formal mirroring – the figures attempting to breach the fortress from below, juxtaposed against the looming presence of the defender holding a war balloon above. It is almost symmetrical if that cluster of geese did not sit right there and fill one side of the frame. Editor: This artwork really makes me smile! It’s bonkers but beautifully crafted, and those noisy geese against that sky – chefs kiss! This must have been a really weird time to live in. I mean it’s all weird really, I just feel like I landed into their bizarre story. Curator: It's a fantastic example of narrative art at its most spirited! John Leech shows the absurdity of life and it's hard not to look at this in today's political situation.