Pen Mightier Than the Sword: The Political Cartoons of Julio Málaga Grenet

Born in Arequipa in 1886, Julio Málaga Grenet showed an interest in drawing and caricature from an early age and began publishing his work in newspapers and magazines at the age of 18. His work reflected the debates and political and social tensions of his time, and he became one of our most important cartoonists.

He worked successfully in Buenos Aires, New York, Paris and Madrid. He was Professor of Graphic Arts and Vice-Director of the School of Fine Arts, and in 1956 became its acting director.

From school cartoons to publication in magazines and newspapers.

“My first caricature […] deserved the kick from critics,” is how Málaga remembered what happened when he was discovered making the caricature of the Principal of his school.

In Lima in 1906, bubonic plague and tuberculosis broke out, and tram travel was conducive to contagion (‘Emilio’ may refer to the tram lines) (Hersburgh Libraries). 

Two Chinese men are talking, the one approaching the policeman speaks in Chinese, and the angry policeman calls him a "macaque", an insult to Chinese immigrants at the time. The cartoon shows how even established immigrants mistreated newcomers.

At Variedades he wrote the covers of the magazine and the ‘Chirigotas’ section. In this medium he also exercised critical thinking, aware that the media formed opinion in the face of the discussions about political power at the time.

The elections passed without incident, but on the day of publication (29 May) President Leguía was kidnapped. This reflects the turbulent political scene at the time.