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Michael Leunig Remembered: The End of an Era in Australian Cartooning

Michael Leunig Remembered: The End of an Era in Australian Cartooning

The passing of Michael Leunig, aged 79, has left a void in Australia’s cultural landscape. Revered for his ability to intertwine whimsy, vulnerability, and profound commentary, Leunig’s work over five decades shaped the nation’s artistic and social consciousness.

A Voice of a Generation

Cartoonist Oslo Davis described Leunig as “a voice of a generation” and “an outlier” who transcended the medium of cartooning. “Michael became more than a cartoonist,” Davis said. “He was a voice of a movement, an ethos about life,” Davis emphasised that Leunig’s passing is not just the loss of a person but a symbolic end to an artistic era.

Leunig’s career began in the 1970s and was marked by a relentless pursuit of truth and emotion. “Anything could be drawn; anything could be said,” Davis reflected. Leunig’s raw honesty was both a necessity and an art form. Over decades of daily work, managed to be insightful, humorous, and deeply personal. “You can’t fake it for so long,” Davis said. “He did that for 50 years.”

A New Kind of Political Cartoon

Leunig redefined what it meant to be a political cartoonist. Rather than focusing on the machinations of politics, he explored its emotional and personal impact. Fellow cartoonist Cathy Wilcox noted, “Instead of looking at what politicians are doing, he focused on how people are experiencing it.”

This shift in perspective, Wilcox argued, influenced a generation of cartoonists who followed. Leunig’s work challenged the dominant masculinity of Australian cartooning, exposing the vulnerabilities and fears beneath societal facades. “He questioned the larrikin bloke archetype,” Wilcox said. “He revealed the self-doubting, fearful soul behind the macho bluster.”

Leunig’s ability to blend the banalities of domestic life with more significant societal issues resonated deeply. His works, which included themes ranging from politics and nature to absurd humour, became staples in Australian households. UK-based Australian cartoonist Wes Mountain recalled seeing prints on the walls of family homes, saying they were as much a part of the cultural fabric as his childhood memories.

A Life of Creation

Wilcox reflected on the timing of death, only months after he retired from The Age, where he had worked since 1969. “It’s like he lived to draw,” she said. “It was his way of breathing.”

Leunig’s freewheeling approach gave him a unique voice. His honesty and emotional depth earned him widespread acclaim. As Wilcox noted, publishers often said, “Cartoon books don’t sell in Australia—unless you’re Leunig.”

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Dividing Fans

Despite his widespread popularity, Leunig’s later years were marked by growing criticism. While his whimsical style was once celebrated, some younger audiences perceived it as overly sentimental. Controversial cartoons, such as one comparing vaccine mandates to the Tiananmen Square massacre, alienated portions of his audience.

Wilcox pointed to inconsistencies in critiques, particularly his condemnation of mothers using childcare despite benefiting from traditional gender roles in his personal life. “It’s all very well to point fingers when you’re supported by others who make your art possible,” she said.

Mountain observed that, like long-time columnists, eventually faced the challenge of returning to familiar themes. “People start to see patterns they don’t like,” he said. “But that doesn’t take away from the work he gave us.”

A Legacy That Endures

Davis believes Leunig’s humanity—complete with contradictions and flaws—made him relatable. “He always drew how he felt, for better or worse. And maybe we lionise people too much, expecting perfection,” he said.

Leunig’s work, Davis argued, was akin to receiving daily artworks from a great master. “Imagine Picasso turning up every day and giving you something new,” he said.

Leunig’s passing marks the end of a cultural chapter, but his legacy lives on in the breadth and depth of his work. “What a body of work he’s given us,” Davis said. “It’s an amazing life.”

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