This is one of two works which commissioned by Blackburn Art Gallery, UK, as the artists’ contemporary response to their significant collection of early illustrated European and Eastern manuscripts known as The Hart Collection.

 

Using Margaret Thatcher as an Archetype, this symbolic portrait of her reinterprets the traditional image of the Grim Reaper as the war mongering politician who not only uses war to further personal ambition, but has the arrogance to claim the 'glory' of winning, as a personal victory.

Such politicians wave the flag of patriotism whilst the real motive or driving force, is an egocentric greed and thirst for material gain and power - ultimately paid for by the suffering and death of the many thousands of innocent victims which the horrors of war claim.

 

The idea for the painting was sparked by the following rebuke made by Mrs Thatcher to one of her cabinet ministers:

"Michael, have you ever won a war ? I have."

'The Grim Reaper' emphasises the conceit of someone who would make such a statement when in fact, nothing could be further than the truth !

 

copyright the artists

 

 

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