Summary
Drawing by Ambrose Dyson, 1951. This caricature, which was published in the Guardian on 2 August 1951, depicts the attempt by Prime Minister Menzies to ban the Communist Party of Australia. This cartoon dates from after the Liberal Party's successful High Court challenge to the constitutionality of the Communist Party Dissolution Bill. It was exhibited at the Social Realists Exhibition at the Melbourne Contemporary Art Gallery in July 1990.
Edward Ambrose Dyson (1908-1952) was a prominent member of the Australian social realist art movement, and contributed a weekly cartoon to the Guardian from 1949 to 1952. His father (Ambrose Dyson) and an uncle (Will Dyson) were also cartoonists. In 1945 he joined the Communist Party and was an active member until his death in 1952.
Description of Content
Drawing - All I Want Is The Power To Deal With These Reds!
Physical Description
Raw wooden framed, mounted ink cartoon depicting Sir Robert Menzies, with his pistol and handcuffs, pointing at a crowd of people with placards such as 'PENSIONERS', 'CHURCH BODIES', 'UNIONS' and 'LABOR MOVEMENT'. Beside Menzies is a collection of bombs, bayonnets and a chain.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase
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Artist
Mr Ambrose Dyson, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1951
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Place & Date Published
Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 Aug 1951
This cartoon was published in the Melbourne Guardian -
Place & Date Exhibited
Melbourne Contemporary Art Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Jul 1990
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Place & Date Depicted
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Inscriptions
Signed u.l., ink: Amb Dyson. Principal character marked 'MENZIES' on waistcoat. Typed adhesive label: 49. ALL I WANT IS POWER TO DEAL WITH THESE REDS!/28 x 28cm $650.
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Framed
48.5 cm (Length), 2.5 cm (Depth), 51 cm (Height)
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Keywords
Arms & Armour, Art, Artistic Practices, Artists, Artworks, Cartoons, Communism, Constitutional Referendums, Political Comment, Political Ideologies, Political Parties, Politicians, Politics, Public Life