Victor Weisz
Encyclopedia
Victor Weisz was a German-British political cartoonist, drawing under the name of Vicky.
and by 1928, at the age of fifteen, he was working as a freelancer, drawing caricatures. His father committed suicide that same year and Weisz began work with the journal 12 Uhr Blatt. His work also appeared in other German newspapers.
Weisz's cartoons took a very strong anti-Nazi
stance. When the Nazis came to power in Germany, they took over the journal where Weisz worked. As a member of the Jewish community with expressed socialist opinions, Weisz decided to leave Germany.
In 1935, he came to the United Kingdom, and worked for the News Chronicle
, Daily Mirror and Evening Standard
. He maintained an independent stance, whatever the political hue of his employers (Liberal, Labour and Conservative respectively), and built a reputation as an incisive commentator on political events.
At the Daily Mirror, Weisz published the Nazi Nugget series. By the 1940s, Weisz, using the pseudonym "Vicky", was one of the leading British left-wing cartoonists. Weisz worked alongside fellow left-wing cartoonist Philip Zec
at the Mirror and replaced him as the paper's chief political cartoonist in 1954.
In the 1950s boom years, many observers felt that the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan
's demeanour as an Edwardian aristocrat was out of step with the times. "Vicky", as the lead political cartoonist of the News Chronicle, ridiculed him as 'Supermac
', a spoof on the American comic-strip hero Superman
. Contrary to the cartoonist's intention, the title Supermac benefited Macmillan, who went on to increase his parliamentary majority at the 1959 General Election
. Earlier in the 1950s Vicky had produced some memorable cartoons of Macmillan's predecessor, Sir Anthony Eden, which made effective use of the Homburg hat
that had been Eden's "trademark" in the 1930s.
Victor Weisz had followed his father in suffering from depression and insomnia; he committed suicide on February 22, 1966.
Biography
Weisz was born in Berlin, Germany, to Hungarian-Jewish parents. He studied at the Berlin School of ArtBerlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
and by 1928, at the age of fifteen, he was working as a freelancer, drawing caricatures. His father committed suicide that same year and Weisz began work with the journal 12 Uhr Blatt. His work also appeared in other German newspapers.
Weisz's cartoons took a very strong anti-Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
stance. When the Nazis came to power in Germany, they took over the journal where Weisz worked. As a member of the Jewish community with expressed socialist opinions, Weisz decided to leave Germany.
In 1935, he came to the United Kingdom, and worked for the News Chronicle
News Chronicle
The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...
, Daily Mirror and Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
. He maintained an independent stance, whatever the political hue of his employers (Liberal, Labour and Conservative respectively), and built a reputation as an incisive commentator on political events.
At the Daily Mirror, Weisz published the Nazi Nugget series. By the 1940s, Weisz, using the pseudonym "Vicky", was one of the leading British left-wing cartoonists. Weisz worked alongside fellow left-wing cartoonist Philip Zec
Philip Zec
Philip Zec was a British political cartoonist and editor. Moving from the advertising industry to drawing political cartoons due to his abhorrence of the rise of fascism, Zec complemented the Daily Mirror editorial line with a series of venomous cartoons...
at the Mirror and replaced him as the paper's chief political cartoonist in 1954.
In the 1950s boom years, many observers felt that the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
's demeanour as an Edwardian aristocrat was out of step with the times. "Vicky", as the lead political cartoonist of the News Chronicle, ridiculed him as 'Supermac
Supermac (cartoon)
"Super-Mac" was the subject of a cartoon - "Introducing Super-Mac" - by "Vicky" in the Evening Standard in London, England, on 6 November 1958....
', a spoof on the American comic-strip hero Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
. Contrary to the cartoonist's intention, the title Supermac benefited Macmillan, who went on to increase his parliamentary majority at the 1959 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
. Earlier in the 1950s Vicky had produced some memorable cartoons of Macmillan's predecessor, Sir Anthony Eden, which made effective use of the Homburg hat
Anthony Eden hat
An "Anthony Eden" hat, or simply an "Anthony Eden", was a silk-brimmed, black felt Homburg of the kind favoured in the 1930s by Anthony Eden, later 1st Earl of Avon . Eden was a Cabinet Minister in the British National Government, holding the offices of Lord Privy Seal from 1934–35 and Foreign...
that had been Eden's "trademark" in the 1930s.
Victor Weisz had followed his father in suffering from depression and insomnia; he committed suicide on February 22, 1966.
External links
- British Cartoon Archive at the University of KentUniversity of KentThe University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
has a database of over 4,000 cartoons by Vicky and a biographical article - Chris Beetles website on "Vicky"
- "Low vs Vicky" article from The Political Cartoon Society
- 1959 election cartoon by "Vicky" from GuardianUnlimited