Political cartoon in model or 'peepshow' 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 image depicts number 4 of the 12 'satirical peepshows' created for the exhibition that were intended to ridicule the government and became hugely popular with the visitors. Entitled 'The Deaf Adder' this model represented a theatre stage with an audience of women from all countries. The model is described in the exhibition catalogue as 'On the platform stands John Bull, masquerading as a snake-charmer (with an axe in his hand marked General Election), aided by two suffragettes with pipes marked 'Deputations' and 'Bye-Elections. Mr Asquith the Deaf Adder, proving obdurate to all, John Bull says: If he won't listen, I must use the axe'.