Montevideo's leading news daily, El País, first published a drawing of his - a portrait of Uruguay national football team forward Juan Schiaffino - when the young artist was but 15 years old.

His career prospered in El País, and Sábat became an editor at the daily, as well as contributing work as a staff correspondent, photographer and illustrator.

President Raúl Alfonsín's ineffective handling of the foreign debt crisis and military demands earned him Sábat's portrayals as a ballet dancer straining to impress stone-faced generals, or, at best, a tightrope walker struggling to retain balance.

[3] Political or military figures known to be especially close to the powerful Catholic Church included a small halo, and CGT labor union leader Saúl Ubaldini (Alfonsín's most vocal opponent) paid for his frequent on-camera theatrics with Sábat's portrayal of his tearful breakdowns and use of the elbow (a typically Italian insult).

The flamboyant Menem's prominent sideburns and ongoing push to extend constitutional term limits lent itself easily to Sábat's portrayal of him as a man fused to his presidential chair.

The death of well-known Argentine cultural icons were infallibly followed by Sábat's homage in the form of an angel (see Ástor Piazzolla's portrait, above).