Spanish Cartoonists Share Their Latest Work
El País has published new visual work in its opinion section from three notable Spanish artists: Peridis, Flavita Banana, and Riki Blanco.
Veteran cartoonist Peridis, whose satirical drawings have long commented on Spanish politics and society, contributed a piece titled '¡Agita el madroño!' ('Shake the madroño!'). The madroño, or strawberry tree, is closely tied to Madrid's identity, most famously depicted alongside a bear in the city's coat of arms.
Flavita Banana, an illustrator recognized for her sharp observations on contemporary life, offered a piece on August fashion trends. She drew on the well-known fairy tale 'The Emperor's New Clothes' as a framework for commenting on seasonal style choices during Spain's traditional summer holiday month.
The third contribution came from Riki Blanco, an illustrator whose piece, titled 'lampadario' — the Italian term for chandelier — appeared alongside the other two works. No further details about the specific content or imagery of this piece were included in the summary.
These three pieces, published together, reflect a longstanding tradition in Spanish print media of using visual satire and illustration to complement written commentary in opinion sections.
Cartoonists like Peridis have historically used such spaces to offer pointed, often humorous takes on political or cultural events, while illustrators such as Flavita Banana bring a more contemporary, lifestyle-focused lens to the format.
The juxtaposition of a politically symbolic cartoon, a fashion-themed illustration, and an artistic piece named after a chandelier illustrates the range of approaches that visual artists bring to a single publication's opinion pages.
While the summary does not provide extensive detail on the content of each piece, the pairing of these three distinct styles — political satire, cultural commentary, and standalone illustration — underscores how newspapers like El País continue to value diverse forms of visual storytelling.
Such collections of cartoons and illustrations remain a regular feature of Spanish journalism, offering readers an alternative, image-based perspective on both current events and everyday cultural moments.
Vocabulary7 words
- cartoonist
- a person who draws pictures with a message, often funny
- coat of arms
- an official picture symbol for a city or group
- satire
- using humor to criticize people or ideas
- juxtaposition
- placing different things close together to compare them
- illustrator
- a person who makes pictures for stories or articles
- framework
- a basic structure used to build an idea
- contemporary
- happening or existing now
Quiz
Answer key
1. Peridis 2. The Emperor's New Clothes 3. False
Discussion questions
- Why do you think newspapers include cartoons and illustrations alongside written opinion pieces?
- How can visual satire, like Peridis's cartoons, communicate political or cultural ideas differently than text?
- What is the significance of using a classic tale like 'The Emperor's New Clothes' to comment on modern fashion?
- Do you think illustrations without much explanation, like Riki Blanco's 'lampadario,' can still communicate a clear message? Why or why not?