Churchill is today remembered as a great leader, a war hero, a literary
heavyweight and a renowned wit. This incarnation of Churchill is the
latest in a long-evolving identity, which at various times has sustained
his power, enhanced his popularity and enabled him to personify aspects
of British national identity.
Indeed Churchill was more aware than most of the performative power of
his public life. He lived in an age of the illustrated mass-produced
newspaper, with its cartoons and 'Kodak-snappers'. He was well-known for
his readiness to appear in uniform for photo opportunities during the
Second World War and he not only wrote about the art of political
caricature, but collected cartoons of himself, his allies and opponents.
In this heavily-illustrated book, Jonathan Black considers the changing
image of Churchill in visual art, from cartoons and paintings to
photographs and sculptures. He asks how and why his image developed
right up to the present day and examines the extent to which Churchill
was complicit in its production.