As the world prepared to usher in 2026, Guardian cartoonist Ella Baron delivered a characteristically sharp and sobering visual commentary. Her New Year's Eve cartoon, published on December 31st, 2025, captured the pervasive sense of geopolitical unease overshadowing the traditional festivities.
A Celebration Overshadowed by Power
The central image is one of stark contrast. On the right, a group of ordinary people are depicted celebrating, their faces turned upwards. They are surrounded by the classic symbols of New Year's Eve: a clock approaching midnight, festive streamers, and the hopeful glow of fireworks. Yet, the scene is dominated not by joy, but by two immense, looming shadows cast upon a wall behind them.
These shadows are unmistakably the silhouettes of former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their figures are enlarged and distorted, creating an imposing and ominous presence that dwarfs the revellers below. The artwork suggests that regardless of one's personal celebrations, the actions and influence of these two powerful leaders remain an inescapable backdrop to global life as the new year begins.
The Art of Political Commentary
Ella Baron, known for her incisive and often bleakly humorous style, uses this simple yet powerful composition to speak volumes. The cartoon moves beyond mere portraiture to comment on the state of international relations and domestic politics. It implies that the spectres of Trump's potential return to power and Putin's ongoing geopolitical manoeuvres are the defining anxieties of the era.
The timing of the publication, on the very last day of 2025, is crucial. It serves as a visual summary of the year's dominant tensions and a pessimistic forecast for the year ahead. The cartoon asks the viewer to consider what, or who, they are truly "seeing in" with the arrival of 2026.
Reactions and Lasting Resonance
While the original source does not detail public reaction, the cartoon's strength lies in its immediate, wordless clarity. It taps into a widespread sentiment of concern about the direction of global democracy, security, and stability. The choice of Trump and Putin as the twin pillars of disquiet reflects their enduring centrality in Western media and political discourse.
Baron's work does not offer solutions or hope, but rather holds up a mirror to the collective mood. It suggests that for many, the turn of the year is not a clean break but a continuation under a cloud shaped by powerful, often controversial, figures. The cartoon stands as a poignant reminder of how art can encapsulate complex political realities in a single, arresting frame.
As a piece of editorial cartooning, it successfully fulfils its role: to provoke thought, crystallise emotion, and challenge the viewer to look beyond the champagne and confetti to the harder realities of the world stage.
