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The First World War cartoons of W.K. Haselden
Created by NHiley on September 11, 2009, 11:10 am. Report this group | FAQ
During the First World war the Daily Mirror was the largest-selling morning paper in Britain, and one of its most popular features were the daily cartoons of William Kerridge Haselden. Haselden was a self-taught cartoonist, who joined the Daily Mirror in December 1903, soon after its launch, at the age of thirty. At first he drew traditional single-frame political cartoons, but after the Daily Mirror dropped its price and went for a mass circulation he changed his style, opting instead for light social comment and a multi-frame style. This proved enormously popular, and from 1907 onwards the annual volumes of his cartoons had a large sale.
During the First World War W.K. Haselden drew thousands of daily cartoons, charting the progress of a country at war. He did produce some political cartoons, and his caricatures of the German Kaiser and Crown Prince as "Big Willie" and "Little Willie" became very famous. However, he was best at drawing what he called the "little passing topics of the day", and his depictions of daily civilian life in wartime now hold more interest than his set-piece political cartoons.
Cartoon item: WH5383
Record details
Reference number:
WH5383
Caption
The depressing influence of the news of the day. [caption on reverse]
Embedded text
"Hooray! Off for a holiday at last!"
"Crisis in Ireland"
"Crisis in Europe"
"Crisis on the Stock Exchange"
"Murder trial, Mme Caillaux"
The weather
Cold gales, sleet and thunderstorms expected.
Notes
Pencil notes at top margin read 'The depressing influence of things at present.'
Subjects
Series
211T
Archival reference number
WH5383
Copyright holder
Copyright contact details
22nd Floor One Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5AP 020 7293 3700 desk@mirrorpix.com
Additional details
Size
31 x 39cm
Technique
Black ink
