Charles Keene has a high reputation as a draftsman. Various continental luminaries mentioned him in the same breath as Daumier (Degas?) J.M.Whistler spoke highly of his artistry. I can never make my mind up wherher his deserves this respect. His basic formats of picture composition seldom change, much of his pen work looks sloppy. There are too many old Cockney Biddies talking in character about nothing much in particular (see also George Belcher). Any cartoon featuring Cleaning Ladies must be suspect.

But here are a few examples where the very stories challenge his visual ingenuity.I do search his work for a resonant sense of landscape.

pair for punch 1888

pair for punch 1888