Bernard Partridge – A Clean Sweep, 1915

Signed lower left “Bernard Partridge”.

Sizes:
Frame: 46 × 53 cm | 18.1 × 20.9 in
Artwork: 28 × 34.5 cm | 11 × 13.6 in

This original pen-and-ink drawing is a masterclass in political satire by Sir Bernard Partridge, the chief cartoonist for the legendary British magazine Punch. Created in 1915 during the height of the First World War, “A Clean Sweep” is a powerful allegorical work. Partridge was renowned for his dignified, classically influenced style, which he used to bolster national morale and provide sharp commentary on the geopolitical landscape of the era.

The work features his signature crisp linework and sophisticated cross-hatching, techniques that allowed for high-quality reproduction in print while maintaining the textural depth of the original drawing. Partridge’s cartoons from this period are considered definitive visual records of the British home front and military sentiment during the Great War.

Family Collection, Spain: Part of a distinguished private collection of artworks and antiques.
Acquired from a gallery or at auction in Cape Town, South Africa, between 1991 and 1995 to furnish a local residence.
The collection was subsequently relocated to Spain following the family’s departure from South Africa.

Good vintage condition; paper shows slight age-related toning characteristic of early 20th-century newsprint illustrations; professionally framed and glazed.

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