Broken Windows

On April 10, 2017, New Yorker magazine published a water color and black ink cartoon style painting entitled “Broken Windows” by cartoonist Barry Blitt on its cover. (Mouly, 2017) It is a multi-dimensional caricature with the back side of President Donald Trump in the foreground as he hits golf balls towards the White House which sits as a target in the background. The New Yorker, a magazine that has been in circulation since 1925 is published by Conde Nast and although geared to New Yorkers as it’s name implies, it receives national attention for its often political covers. This cover “Broken Windows,” is a clever pastel cartoon illustration, at first glance appearing comical, simple and bright. But as the artist draws the viewer in, he invites further contemplation of a very serious, dark binary commentary which highlights so much of what is seriously destructive and troublesome with this President and his administration. (Vongkiatkajorn, 2017) The composition, a horizontal black ink and pastel water color, has similar proportions to an 8 1/2’ by 11’ standard piece of paper. The mostly pastel color palate softens the contrasting oppositional harsh context of the underlying issues in the painting. It is geometrically correct with a …show more content…
His right foot aimed backward with the cleat pointing upwards, his foot is drawn larger than his tiny head and about the same size as his torso. The cleat aimed upward symbolizing the sharp policies and lack of stability and grounding being lobbed by President’s Trumps policies towards the citizens. He is wearing a red baseball cap, which when viewed in historical perspective, one realizes it is the same cap which he was seen wearing nearly every day of his campaign and has been one of the causes of controversy. A politically aware viewer knows it says, “Make America Great Again” without even seeing the front of the