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CARTOON - SWEET SIMPLICITY UNDER THE MISTLETOE

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Ben Strange

1903

Overview

A full page black and white published cartoon. The image features a figure in a long white dress with frilly, lacy decoration on the hem and shoulders. The figure is holding a small bouquet of flowers and is standing under some mistletoe with [DEMOCRACY] written on it. The figure has a masculine face. Behind the figure are two men in black tuxedo's with white dickies and bow ties. The man on the left is smiling and has a name tag saying [LABOUR]. The man on the right is stepping through a dark curtain. The head of third man can be seen also speaking through the curtain. To the left of the curtain is a sign with a floral decoration around it. Text on the sign [WISHING / YOU / A / HAPPY / NEW YEAR]. Written across the bottom of the cartoon is [Sweet Simplicity Under the Mistletoe].
Ben Strange signed in the right hand corner.

Historical information

This cartoon was drawn not long after the Federal Election held on December 16 1903. The three key figures in the cartoon are possibly Federal politicians.
Following the election no one party had a majority with the Protectionist Party, the Free Trade Party and the Labour Party each holding approximately a third of the seats in Parliament. The most likely outcome of the election was that the Deakin lead Protectionist Party would form a coalition with the Labour Party
Deakin who was Prime Minister before the election tried to form a coalition with the Labour party but in the end failed. When parliament was recalled in March 1904 Deakin tried to pass a bill but it was defeated. Deakin took this as a motion of no confidence and stood down. Watson formed a Labour lead coalition government which only lasted through to July 1905 when Deakin returned as Prime Minister with a new coalition.
Any held identifying who is featured in this cartoons would be greatly appreciated. Please contact History House if you believe you can help.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-COA2018.70

Item type

Documents

Themes

People
Social History

Material

Paper

Width

317 mm

Height or length

475 mm

Inscriptions and markings

Artist's signature bottom right corner [Ben Strange]

Keywords

Western Mail Newspaper

STRANGE Ben Mr

New Year

Place made

Western Australia
Australia

Year

1903

Statement of significance

HIGH
The Ben Strange cartoons are historically significant as they depict many key figures linked to the history and development of both Western Australia and Australia. Political figures who regularly appeared in his cartoons included John Happy Jack Scaddan, the Premier of Western Australia from 1911 until 1916, and William Billy Hughes, the Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923.

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Rare or representative

Well provenanced