James Gillray. Presages of the Millenium, 1795. Etching and aquatint with watercolour on paper, 32.6 × 37.6 cm. Gift of the Trier-Fodor Foundation, 1985. © Art Gallery of Ontario 85/56
Located on first floor in gallery 127, the John & Nancy Mulvihill Gallery.
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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.
