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BERLIN – Berlin-based cartoonist Jan Klocke has been awarded the prestigious German Caricature Prize for 2026. The announcement was made yesterday, November 8, during a ceremony held at the Schauspielhaus in Dresden.
The Winning Work: ‘Tumortherapie’
Klocke, who works as a physician in a hospital when not drawing cartoons, secured the top prize with his satirical work titled ‘Tumortherapie’ (Tumor Therapy). The caricature depicts a patient with a tumor growing from their back. Instead of performing surgery, the doctor in the drawing suggests addressing the growth “in terms of content.”
The jury praised the work for its biting social commentary, stating: “We have long known what we should do about climate change, right-wing extremism, or major tech corporations, but we are afraid to take the knife to them.”
About the Artist
Jan Klocke, born in 1989, has been publishing cartoons on social media since 2024. Despite his artistic success, he maintains a primary career as a hospital doctor. The first prize is accompanied by a cash award of 4,000 euros.
Competition Details
This year’s competition, themed “Ready for Therapy” (Reif für die Therapie), saw a high level of participation. More than 1,000 works were submitted by 265 different cartoonists. The total prize pool for the competition, organized by the Sächsische Zeitung and the Weser-Kurier, amounts to 11,000 euros.
Other Award Winners
- Silver Award: Leonard Riegel from Frankfurt for his drawing “Merzwanderer.”
- Bronze Award: Teresa Backmund from Leipzig for her work “Quereinsteiger.”
- Best Newcomer: Maxim Seehagen from Lower Saxony, for his caricature depicting Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Exhibition Schedule
The winning works, presented in the form of winged pencils, will be available for public viewing at several locations in the coming months:
- Dresden: House of the Press (starting November 9)
- Bremen: Parliament building (starting November 24)
- Hamburg area: Agathenburg Castle (starting March 4)
Source: PZ-news.de
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