This is the poster “Swingeing London” by Richard Hamilton, created in 1967.

The work is based on the 1967 drug-related arrest of Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It is composed as a collage of newspaper clippings and press images, layering fragments of media coverage into a dense visual field that reflects the circulation of information and imagery.

The title “Swingeing London” plays on the popular phrase “Swinging London,” replacing it with “swingeing,” meaning severe or punitive. This wordplay introduces a critical perspective on the contrast between the era’s vibrant cultural image and the underlying structures of authority and social control.

As a pioneer of Pop Art, Hamilton frequently engaged with mass media imagery. In this work, he moves beyond appropriation to critically examine the relationship between media representation and reality. “Swingeing London” stands as a key work reflecting the cultural and social climate of 1960s Britain.