Political cartoon exhibited at the Women's Exhibition

Political cartoon in model or 'peepshow' exhibited at the Women's Exhibition, May 1909. The two week Women's Exhibition, held at Prince's Skating Rink, Knighstbridge was organised by the Women's Social and Political Union both to raise funds and the profile of the Suffragette campaign. Educating visitors about the political debate and government intransigence on the issue of female suffrage was also a key purpose of the Exhibition. This, number 3 of the 12 satirical 'peepshows' created for the exhibition entitled 'Deputation Refused' depicts the Suffragettes at the Strangers' Entrance to the House of Commons'.  The scene described by the WSPU in the exhibition catalogue as 'Three Suffragettes, one being Mrs Pankhurst, form a deputation to Mr Asquith. Stalwart policemen guard the entrance, while from behind the door terrified Ministers are peeping. Asquith to Lloyd George 'Do you think we have got sufficient policemen to keep them out?'This model was based on a cartoon by A Patriot (Alfred Pearse) that appeared on the front cover of Votes for Women on April 2nd 1909.