Leading article: Public image
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.They're offensive, insulting, bullying, coarse and unkind. They're rude, scabrous, scatological and obscene. But the works of James Gillray are also some of the funniest and finest cartoons ever made.
So, naturally, it's good news that some works by the great 18th-century caricaturist have been discovered in the bowels of the Ministry of Justice. This particular set, which will now be transferred to the Victoria & Albert Museum, was apparently seized by some sort of Victorian vice squad.
Victorian mores have not entirely died out. Indeed, people seem increasingly quick to take offence nowadays. Some subjects, we are told, should be off limits. But Gillray reminds us that crude satire, directed at the powerful and often stupid individuals who seek to rule over us, is more than two centuries old. Political crudity is not only part of our heritage; it's one of Britain's enduring gifts to the world.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments