David Low was a New Zealand-British cartoonist, who is best-known for the political cartoons he made in the UK during the 1930s and 1940s. Born in Dunedin, he had his first work published at age 11 and began his career with The Canterbury Times in 1910. After working in Australia for The Bulletin for a while, he moved to England in 1919. He was employed by The London Star until 1927 and then joined The Evening Standard. It was for this paper that Low created his famous commentaries on the turbulent political situation of the 1930s and 1940s, from the rise of fascism and the Spanish Civil War to the conflict of World War II.
'Muzzler The Dictator', from Low's Topical Budget of 12 February 1938.
His cartoons often featured sharp depictions of the political leaders of the time, but also the character of 'Colonel Blimp', a caricature of the British establishment. His 'Topical Budget' cartoon series also featured a strips about 'Hit and Muss' (Hitler and Mussolini), that led to a ban of his work in Italy and Germany, and to his inclusion in the so-called "Black Book" of prominent Britons to be arrested upon a Nazi invasion of Britain.
Low left The Evening Standard in 1950 and then continued his career working for the Daily Herald and The Manchester Guardian. In 1953 Low made a cartoon depicting Elizabeth II that criticized the high cost of her coronation. The drawing caused so much controversy that the chief editor of the Manchester Guardian was forced to apologize. Nevertheless, Low was still knighted in 1962 and passed away during the following year.
David Low was an influence on Steve Bell, Sidney Strube, Willem and Pil.
