The power of political cartoons

They draw attention to corruption, hold power to account and poke fun at the dictators and the despots. In the age of larger-than-life leaders and the internet echo chamber, political cartoons seem more poignant than ever. Zoe Ettinger speaks to six illustrators about their best – and worst – creations

‘I find myself drawing more cartoons about our common humanity and what brings us together,’ says Jeffrey Koterba (Omaha World-Herald)

A wry smile. A knowing stare. The unique tuft of hair on Donald Trump’s head. These characteristics come to life when they are expressed visually. In other words, some things have to be seen to be believed. Cartoonists and caricaturists capitalise on this fact, and capture audiences with their unique renditions of people we know and instantly recognise.

Cartoon and caricature date back to the 15th century. Leonardo da Vinci was known for creating exaggerated drawings of townspeople. These doodles were actually some of his most popular works at the time, their humour appealing to a wider audience.

Unlike the traditional Mona Lisa or Salvator Mundi, these drawings sought out unconventional-looking people, those with big bumpy noses or protruding chins, and made them even more pronounced. It was through this expansion of the human form that Leonardo was able to comment on the multifaceted nature of man. It was as if he could transpose their personality directly onto the page.