Portuguese cartoonist Rodrigo de Matos has won the coveted “Press Cartoon Europe Grand Prix” with a tongue-in-cheek dig at the inequality of life in Portugal.
The winning cartoon depicts a beggar with his begging bowl smiling widely as someone ladles him out a football.
The caption reads: “Among the growing poverty and the hard austerity measures, the people of Portugal have found a reason to smile: the national football team qualifying for World Cup finals in Brazil.”
For Matos, 39 – who studied journalism in Coimbra – it came as a complete surprise.
Talking to the Macau Times which features his work, he said this was the first time he had been selected for the final round of the competition.
“Winning is almost unbelievable! This is my first big award and I achieved it with a lot of work and dedication. The PCE Grand Prix is probably the most important award for cartoonists who publish in European media.”
Matos wins €8,000 in cash for his top prize and will be presented with it at the International Cartoon Festival in Belgium in July. The competition’s other winners were both from the Netherlands. Press Cartoon Europe Grand Prix is sponsored by Press Cartoon Belgium.
