James Gillray, Presages of the Millenium

Crossing the Line: Political Satire from 1800 to Today

September 7, 2019 - February 20, 2020

Located on first floor in gallery 127, the John & Nancy Mulvihill Gallery.

Admission is always FREE for AGO Members, AGO Annual Pass Holders & Visitors 25 and under. Learn more.

EXHIBITION OVERVIEW

Humour can be a powerful weapon to fight hypocrisy and corruption.  As political cartoons critique the antics of people in high places, they inspire debate and provoke a range of responses from amusement to outrage. While playful and witty, visual humour can also be biting and cruel. Where do you think political satire crosses the line?

In 1976, the AGO received a gift from the Trier-Fodor Foundation of works by illustrator Walter Trier (1890–1951) along with an endowment fund that has supported the AGO’s purchase of satirical art. This installation includes a recent acquisition,  Sandow Birk’s series lampooning American President Donald Trump’s administration, along with historical prints and drawings that show how the visual tools of humour have not changed much over the past several centuries.


ARTWORKS FROM THE EXHIBITION

Lithograph image
Sandow Birk The Horrible & Terrible Deeds of the Very Renowned Trumpagruel
The Horrible & Terrible Deeds & Words of the Very Renowned Trumpagruel
Sandow Birk
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