Original portrait of Margaret Thatcher in the guise of Kitchener.

[1980s]. From Thatcher's estate An original artwork by the British cartoonist Michael Cummings, depicting Margaret Thatcher in the style of the famous First World War Lord Kitchener poster; the artwork was apparently presented to Margaret Thatcher, and is acquired directly from her estate. Cummings (1919-1997) started his career drawing cartoons for the left-wing Tribune in the late 1930s, edited by Michael Foot. From 1958 he began regular work for the Sunday Express, and alternated with Giles on the Daily Express. By the 1960s he was a constant opponent of the Labour Party. He was a supporter of Thatcher throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In turn, he wrote, "Mrs Thatcher probably approved of me because she asked me for a couple of originals" (cited by The Oldie, 26 April 2019). He continued producing work into the 1990s, and claimed to be the only political cartoonist to have drawn every British prime minister from Churchill to Tony Blair (ODNB). It is unknown whether the portrait was ever published. A large number of Cummings's cartoons of Thatcher are digitized by the University of Kent's British Cartoon Archive, but this is not listed there. Pen and ink with crayon guidelines, 350 x 270 mm, mounted to board. Black frame and conservation acrylic glazing. Framed size: 445 x 315 mm. Light finger-soiling and toning. In very good condition.