Pinto & Chinto: Celebrating Two Decades of Satirical Success
For twenty years,the Spanish duo Pinto & Chinto – Carlos López and Xosé Manuel Pose – have been captivating audiences with their insightful and humorous political cartoons. Their work, known as Pinto & Chinto, has garnered international recognition, culminating in numerous awards across Italy, Colombia, France, Mexico, and throughout Spain, including the prestigious Mingote Prize in 2013.
The pair’s cartoons have appeared in a wide range of publications, from Spanish newspapers like La Voz de Galicia, Diario 16, and O correo Galego, to international outlets such as The Wall street Journal and Diario de León. They’ve also expanded their reach beyond the press, publishing several successful books and exhibiting their work in cities across spain and internationally, including Japan, Germany, Mexico, and Italy.
Their success is rooted in a collaborative process, as López explains, sometimes ideas flow effortlessly, while other times require multiple sketches and consensus-building. The duo’s work often tackles notable global issues, reflecting the mission of organizations like World Press Cartoon, based in Lisbon, Portugal, which champions freedom of the press for illustration professionals and hosts a major annual competition. This year’s competition saw Montenegrin artist Darko Drljevic win the Editorial Cartoon category with a striking image of the Statue of Liberty with a mouth sewn shut, bearing the signature of Donald Trump.
López notes the existence of “universal humor” that resonates across cultures,but also highlights the unique comedic sensibility of his native Galicia,a region with a humor he compares to British and Irish wit. This local flavor, termed “retranca,” is a subtle irony that often conceals true meaning, proving challenging for outsiders to fully grasp.
The enduring popularity of pinto & Chinto demonstrates the power of political cartooning to engage,provoke thought,and offer a unique outlook on the world. Their work, exemplified by a recent cartoon playfully juxtaposing Pope Francis with Diego Maradona – replacing “god” with Maradona’s iconic nickname “D10s” - continues to resonate with audiences both locally and globally, solidifying their position as champions of satirical illustration. The strong connection between Argentina and Galicia, described as a “relationship of brother countries” with Argentina often referred to as the “fifth Galician province” due to historical emigration patterns, also frequently inspires López’s work, alongside figures like Leo Messi, Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, Ricardo Darín, Federico luppi, and Les Luthiers.
