Michael Leunig was an iconic Australian cartoonist, writer, painter, philosopher and poet, best known for his cartoons published in the Sydney Morning Herald and Age newspapers. Spanning the political, cultural and philosophical, his visual world was at once tender and perspective, forever preoccupied with the idea of a sacred inner life.

‘HIS + HER CONTRACEPTIVE PACK’ sounds like a good idea on paper. It is an original and rare drawing, depicting a man and woman pre and post contraception; the man’s feet have grown ludicrously long while the woman dons a fake nose and glasses. They are no longer capable of kissing let alone getting coital.

As special as it is rare, this work is exceptionally rare and provenanced from the Leunig Family's private collection. It is a treat for admirers of the cartoonist, dreamers and collectors of important works on paper, as well as a reminder that even the best ideas can have unintended, absurd consequences. 

Michael LEUNIG (1945 - 2024)
'HIS + HER CONTRACEPTIVE PACK' 1981
ink on paper
Image Size: 9 x 5 cm
Dimensions: 13 x 12 cm
Signed: Leunig lower right. Stamped with date of creation verso: 2 Dec 1981; inscribed with P2 / 11 x 8 top left corner.
Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition: Very Good: Describes a work of art's image as Excellent, but may show some small signs of surrounding wear to paper. Illustration on torn paper; whiteout between images; residue of masking tape bottom margin.

(c) The Artist or Assignee