On January 20th, if all goes according to plan, Donald Trump will depart the office of the Presidency. Barry Blitt, who has spent much of the past four years studying, drawing, and riffing on Trump’s antics and demagoguery, recently spoke with us about his latest cover, and about the pace and density of the news.
What visual metaphors for America—other than the eagle—come to mind? Do you have a list you turn to when searching for ideas?
Visual metaphors for America: well, you’ve got your Statue of Liberty, your Uncle Sam. Also, anything with stars and stripes on it. Babe Ruth, apple pie. And maybe, now, a fur-wearing QAnon shaman. I confess that I do actually keep a folder of potentially useful metaphors on my desktop, but it’s mostly crazy, obscure stuff: photos of bowling-alley accidents, drinking bird toys, police lineups, etc.
Political cartoons often comment on fleeting news events, so they can have a short shelf life. Are there images you did a while back that now puzzle you?
The density of ephemeral news events in the last few years—hell, in the last few weeks—has left me with piles of drawings I can barely recall or understand today. I just came across a drawing of a distinguished, impeccable Robert Mueller, seated at a kitchen table—that’s incomprehensible to me. He looks familiar, but I’m drawing a blank. Was he a TV chef? A game-show host?
You’re from Canada. Could a figure like Trump emerge there?
I guess anything is possible. Italy had Berlusconi; Brazil, Bolsonaro. Maybe there’s an up-and-coming Canadian politician who is a narcissistic, closed-minded, intolerant bully, but perfectly polite enough to get elected there.
For more of Blitt’s recent covers, see below:
Find Barry Blitt’s covers, cartoons, and more at the Condé Nast Store.
