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 over 55 years. In this rare collection of hand-crafted cartoons, Leunig’s artistic beginnings are unveiled. Unendingly honest and bitingly comedic, these early-career works are a testament to Leunig’s longstanding ability to confront audiences’ sensibilities while still making them laugh.

In ‘Untitled (Student of Australia)’, Leunig uses his signature satirical style to take a critical lens to the rise of Marxism and Communism within University campuses. Richly contextualised by a 1969 Australia, Leunig’s reflections still remain relevant, illustrating the ironies and contradictions that are prolific throughout university political environments. Assembled from individually drawn panels, and signed off from the witty voice of the artist himself, this work is classically Leunig and vividly reflective of his artistic process.

The cartoons in this collection were crafted in the late 1960s for the short-lived political magazine ‘Broadside’. This Melbourne-based fortnightly bulletin was headed by politician, activist and journalist Pete Steedman and owned by The Age newspaper. Often shocking and divisive, and always politically charged, this publication only ran for around seven months.

These works are rare to market and instantly reflective of the 1969 political landscape. For lovers of Leunig, those fascinated by the history of Australian politics, or collectors of political cartoons, ‘Untitled (Students of Australia)’ is a jewel to discover.

Michael LEUNIG (1945 - 2024)
'Untitled (Students of Australia)' 1969
mixed media on paper
Image Size: 27 x 40 cm
Dimensions: 49 x 61 x 3 cm
Signed: Signed 'Leunig' in bottom right corner of image

Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition : Good

As expected with age, the work would benefit from conservation. We can engage a highly regarded conservator to sensitively restore it to good condition.

(c) The Artist or Assignee