Chris Madden Cartoons

A searchable archive for licensing

Marriage advice cartoon

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Marriage advice cartoon

Marriage advice

A cartoon from a series of ‘wellness’ cartoons featuring a life coach and spiritual advisor called Mrs Walton.
The cartoon features marriage advice to young men. The type of young men that I’ve depicted is deliberate. Interprete it as you wish.
The life coach is saying “Never marry a woman whoitmore attractive than Scarlett Johansson or less attractive than Lily James”.

A cartoon about life coaches, lifestyle advice, marriage advice, therapy, relationship advice.
Drawn: 2012
Cartoon reference number: a901

Snooper drones cartoon

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private snooper drones

Personal spy drone cartoon
The use of drones for private detective work

A cartoon about one of the implications of the spread of drone technology in the future if drones become available to the public as personal drones or as civilian surveillance drones in general

The drone in the image is being used by a husband to spy on his wife
Advances in drone technology have implications for civil liberties, with the possibility of a Big Brother society

Click below for another cartoon about the possible use of personal drones Snooper drones

Ref a606
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Recycling cartoon. Woman putting man in recycling bin

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man in recycling bin cartoon

Recycling waste cartoon
Woman putting man in recycling bin

A cartoon showing a woman thinking of putting her partner or husband into the recycling waste. He is standing idly thinking of sport while she is busy doing the household chores (in this case doing the recycling by visiting the local recycling centre).

As well as being about recycling and sustainability the cartoon is about gender differences, couple incompatibility, partner resentment

Cartoon reference number: a456

Life as a game of chess – cartoon

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chess piece as hats - cartoon

Life as a game of chess – cartoon

Showing a chess board on which people are standing, with chess pieces on their heads like hats

A slightly surreal cartoon about chess. The concept is that life is a game of chess, and we are all players

It’s also about life strategies, competitiveness, power struggles, inter-human dynamics, interpersonal politics, sociology, game theory.

Cartoon reference number: a426

Speech balloons that link like jigsaw puzzle pieces

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jigsaw speech balloon cartoon

An illustration or cartoon about communication between people

The cartoon shows two people who communicate so well together that their speech balloons form two interlocking halves of a jigsaw that fit together perfectly

The cartoon illustrates a couple who are a perfect match who relate perfectly, complimenting each other, with their thoughts and ideas linking perfectly (symbolised by their speech bubbles matching or complimenting).
The shapes of the jigsaw pieces can also be interpreted as having a sexual connotation.
The cartoon is linked to therapy, relationships, couples, communication, understanding, empathy.

Cartoon reference number: a407

How to communicate with men – talk balls

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communicate with men - cartoon

Cartoon: how to communicate with men – talk balls

A joke about male obsession with sport, especially sports that involve balls

A humorous comment aon the communication gap between men and women.
The cartoon is also a criticism of some women’s dismissive attitudes to male interests.

Thie cartoon deals with issues concerning gender differences, gender specific interests, hobbies, women’s view of men, feminist’s attitude to men, feminism, male stereotypes, stereotyping, sports fans

Cartoon reference number: a343

Tunnel of Love cartoon

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Tunnel of love cartoon

Cartoon. A couple in a boat leaving the Tunnel of Love. The boat enters a vast empty ocean called the Sea of Tedium.

A cartoon about the end of romance, the waning of love, unrealistic expectations, romantic delusions, the banality of life, boring partners, declining physical attraction, lovers, marriage, relationships, passion, boredom and ennui.

Not a very romantic view of romance really!

Drawn: 2006

Cartoon reference number: tun001

Organic gardening cartoon – worms dragging unwanted organic matter underground

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Worms dragging unwanted matter underground - cartoon

Organic gardening cartoon – worms dragging unwanted organic matter underground

Cartoon showing a woman thinking about her husband being dragged under the soil by worms. Wishful thinking

A cartoon about organic gardening

The woman in the cartoon is a keen organic gardener – and her husband is a lazy waste of space.
She is thinking about the organic gardening principle that you should allow worms to drag decaying organic matter into the soil, and she is wishing that the worms would do that to her husband.

Cartoon reference number: a298

See my book of gardening cartoons here.
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Wise sayings cartoon. Never marry a woman prettier than …

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Cartoon. Never marry a woman prettier than...

Cartoon about advise on how to live your life. The sort of woman to marry – how attractive should she be?

The cartoon shows a ‘lifestyle guru’ telling some young men what sort of woman it’s advisable to marry.
Part of the joke in the cartoon is that the situation depicted is absurd, because the young men are obviously unmotivated members of disaffected youth culture. Marriage is obviously not on their agenda. Especially marriage to the sort of women to whom the adviser is referring.

This cartoon is part of a series about the phenomenon of gurus, personal counsellors, lifestyle coaches (a recent and rather ludicrous twist on the phenomenon of personal fulfilment), motivational speakers and suchlike. In the series the guru, counsellor or what-have-you is a very ordinary middle aged woman rather than someone who is removed from the humdrum of everyday life.
The speaker is meant to represent to some extent a parody of lifestyle advisers and self improvement gurus.

Cartoon about matchmaking, attractive women, marriageable women, marriage guidance, never marry a pretty woman, wisdom, counselling, engagement in society.
Cartoon reference number: a128
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The Kiss. Two jigsaw pieces embrace

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jigsaw-pieces-couple-kiss

The Kiss. Two jigsaw pieces embrace, because they fit together perfectly and are clearly made for each other

A drawing of a kissing couple. The couple’s heads are jigsaw pieces which fit together perfectly when they kiss.

A drawing about love and romance. It’s a romantic drawing which I’m showing because it’s Valentine’s Day soon.
The drawing works as a Valentines Day cartoon, or as a piece of surrealist artwork. It’s a Valentine cartoon or an illustration about love, showing a romantic couple who are ‘made for each other’ because they fit together like pieces of a jigsaw.
Cartoon reference number: a117
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Therapy cartoon. If you’re too happy perhaps you need therapy

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Cartoon - you're too contented - you need therapy

Psychotherapy (or just plain therapy) Cartoon. Happiness cartoon.

Therapy cartoon – showing a woman saying to her partner “I’m worried about how contented you seem – I think you need therapy”
She is over analysing people’s moods and even diagnosing happiness or being happy as a mental condition that requires treatment.

Happiness cartoon. A cartoon about the potential over use of therapy, analysis, counselling, psychology, psychiatry, psychotic states.
Cartoon reference number: a086

Parenting skills cartoon. Naughty step cartoon

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Naughty step cartoon

Naughty step cartoon. A cartoon about parenting and parenting skills.

Child psychology cartoon.
The naughty step is a child discipline technique of the ‘Supernanny’ school of child development.
The joke in this cartoon is that the technique has been applied by the mother to her husband as well as to her child.

A cartoon about child development, discipline, hen-pecked husbands, domineering wife.
Cartoon reference number: a057

Computer cartoon. Are computers intuitive to use?

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computer use intuitive cartoon

Learning how to use a computer – cartoon. A man saying to a woman that computers are totally intuitive to use.

A cartoon showing a person using a computer and another person teaching computing skills.

A cartoon showing the difference in approach to knowledge and technology by men and women. The woman is unsure of her ability while the man is arrogant and sure.
A cartoon about computers and gender differences.
Cartoon reference number: a034
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Differences between the sexes. Cartoon – a man noticing a car while a woman notices a cat

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men nice car women nice cat cartoon

Gender differences cartoon. Cartoon – a man noticing a car while a woman notices a cat.

A cartoon showing a man being impressed by a high status car while a woman is more interested in the cat that is sitting on the car.

A cartoon about gender differences, feminism, gender roles, masculinity, male traits, female traits, genetic determinism, the blank slate.
Cartoon reference number: a030

Man doing housework cartoons. Product design designed to appeal to men

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men with vacuum cleaner cartoon

Men doing housework cartoons. A vacuum cleaner designed to appeal to men.

A cartoon showing a man looking at a vacuum cleaner and being interested in its design and specifications.
Some household devices such as the Dyson vacuum cleaner are very muscular and macho, and are probably designed to be targeted to appeal to male sensibilities.

A cartoon about gender differences, feminism, gender roles, masculinity, male traits, household chores, product design.
Cartoon reference number: a029
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Man doing housework to impress woman cartoons

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man doing housework to impress woman cartoon

Men doing housework cartoons. Men act differently in the company of attractive women.

A cartoon showing a man modifying his behaviour in order to impress an attractive woman (possibly subconsciously).

A cartoon about gender differences, feminism, gender roles, sexual attraction strategies, deception, sexual display, gender interaction.
Cartoon reference number: a028
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Men doing housework cartoon. Men never know which washing programme to use

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men washing machine cartoon

Men doing housework cartoon. Men never know which washing programme to use

A cartoon showing a woman complaining to her husband/partner that he’s put the washing machine on the wrong wash cycle, ruining her clothes by making it shrink in the wash because it was too hot.

The cartoon shows the different talents/interests/preoccupations of men and women.
The man is good at fixing the plumbing, but he’s useless at using the washing machine itself.

A cartoon about gender differences, feminism, gender roles, male incompetence at housework.
Cartoon reference number: a027
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Cartoon about compromise and consensus

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Lets meet half way compromise cartoon

A cartoon about compromise and consensus.

A cartoon showing two people disagreeing.
They want to compromise (or at least one of them does), but the gulf between them is too great.
There is no meeting point possible.
The thing that the two people disagree about could be anything from a domestic issue, an emotional issue, a relationship issue, a political issue, a pay negotiation – any sort of problem really.

A cartoon about compromise, consensus, diplomacy, shifting your position, negotiating, therapy, counselling, psychotherapy, arbitration, negotiation.
Cartoon reference number: a024

Teamwork cartoon – together we can conquer the world – separately we are nothing

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Cartoon bow & arrow together conquer world

Cartoon showing a bow and arrow. The arrow is walking away from the bow. The bow is telling the arrow that separately they are nothing but together they can conquer the world.

The bow and arrow in this cartoon are a metaphor for teamwork. Neither member of the team can function to their full potential (or in this case, at all) without the other team member.

A cartoon about teams and teamwork, relationships, interdependence, teams, teamwork, symbiosis, management skills, facilitation, achieving potential.
Cartoon reference number: a004
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Teamwork cartoon. An arrow is nothing without a bow

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Cartoon. Bow and arrow team

Cartoon showing a bow and arrow. The arrow is walking away from the bow. The bow is saying to the arrow “Come back – you’re nothing without me!”.

The bow and arrow in this cartoon are a metaphor for interpersonal relationships – especially ones where one person has a talent that can only be realised due to the input of someone else. In the cartoon the arrow is the ‘talent’ while the bow is the person through whom the talent can achieve fulfilment
The bow could represent a facilitator, an agent, a manager, an impresario, a partner, a muse.

A cartoon about teams and teamwork, relationships, interdependence, teams, teamwork, symbiosis, management skills, facilitation.
Cartoon reference number: a003

Fairy story cartoon. The princess and the pea

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Fairy tale illustration. The princess and the pea

Fairy tale cartoon
A reinterpretation of the princess and the pea

A cartoon showing the fairy tale of the princess and the pea.
In this cartoon the prince who is a suitor of the princess is being warned that because the princess is so sensitive that she feels the presence of the pea (and is complaining about the presence of the pea) he should maybe reconsider his interest in her, as she is obviously going to be very demanding

A cartoon about Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales, oversensitivity, prima donnas, spoilt children, cultural stereotypes, gender stereotyping

Cartoon drawn: 2011
Cartoon reference number: pea25
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Boat leaving the Tunnel of Love – cartoon

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Tunnel of love cartoon

Tunnel of love cartoon

A couple in a boat leaving the Tunnel of Love. The boat enters a vast empty ocean called the Sea of Tedium

A cartoon about the end of romance, the waning of love, unrealistic expectations, romantic delusions, the banality of life, boring partners, declining physical attraction, lovers, marriage, relationships, passion, boredom, ennui

Original version drawn: 2007
Cartoon reference number: tol251
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Wishing well cartoon. How to get rid of your boyfriend

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Wishing well cartoon. A monster in the well, granting a wish

Wishing well cartoon
A wishing well granting a wish

A couple standing near a wishing well. A monsterous tentacle appears out of the well and pulls the man down the well. The woman thinks “It worked!”.
The woman wanted to get rid of her boyfriend/husband/partner

A cartoon about relationships, wishes, couples, splitting up, incompatible partners, incompatibility, wishful thinking

Ref: wis710

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