David Low's Colonel Blimp caricature (1934)

Colonel Blimp is a satirical cartoon character created by New Zealand-born cartoonist David Low for the London "Evening Standard" in 1934. The character is a fat, bald, and mustachioed British military officer who represents the pompous, reactionary, and outdated attitudes of the British upper class. He is often depicted sitting in a bath wearing a towel, complaining about modern progress.

Colonel Blimp became a powerful symbol of the complacency and lack of foresight within the British military establishment during the interwar period. Low used the character to criticize British politicians and generals who failed to recognize the growing threat of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Blimp famously espoused the belief that war should be fought according to the "rules of the game."

Yes, the character inspired the famous 1943 British epic film "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp," directed by the legendary duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The film expands on the caricature by tracing the life of a well-meaning but stubbornly traditional British officer, Clive Candy. Winston Churchill reportedly hated the film and tried to ban it.

David Low published his influential Colonel Blimp caricatures in the London "Evening Standard" newspaper, where he was the chief cartoonist from 1927 to 1950. His satirical work was heavily syndicated, making Colonel Blimp a household name throughout the British Empire. Low was later knighted for his immense contributions to political satire.