Victor Weisz

Victor Weisz

(b. 1913 Berlin, Germany – immigrated to Great Britain 1935 – d. 1966 London, England)

Berlin: Crisis? What Crisis?, 1961 Pen, ink, and wash on paper 21 x 24 cm Signed (lower right) ‘Vicky’ Ben Uri Collection Presented by Mr and Mrs Barry Fealdman

This cartoon was created in the context of The Berlin Crisis of 1961, when the USSR demanded the withdrawal of troops from West Berlin leading to the erection of the East German section of the Berlin Wall, dividing the city in two. Here, customers gathered at the famous Café Kranzler in the Charlottenburg district, are oblivious to the unfolding political crisis. Victor ‘Vicky’ Weisz, was a Berlinborn political cartoonist of HungarianJewish descent. After fleeing to England in 1935, he pursued a high-profile career as a cartoonist at The News Chronicle, The Evening Standard, and the New Statesman, among others. He committed suicide in 1966.