The term “caricature” conjures images of ridiculous renderings drawn by boardwalk artists – but what is caricature? And what does caricature mean? We’re going to answer those questions by exploring the history of “caricature,” as well as a definition and some examples. By the end, you’ll know what caricature means, and how to recognize it in writing and visual art.
Caricature Meaning Explained
What does caricature mean?
The term “caricature” is rooted in the Italian caricare, meaning “to load” and caricatura, meaning “to be loaded.” However, over the years (and through translation), caricature has taken on a meaning of its own.
William Hogarth is widely credited with popularizing caricature as an aesthetic tool to satirize social issues with his 1748 painting The Gate of Calais or O, the Roast Beef of Old England. In Hogarth’s painting, a fat monk maniacally reaches out for the butcher’s chunk of beef as gaunt-faced soldiers look on in desperation.
What is Caricature? • William Hogarth - O the Roast Beef of Old England ('The Gate of Calais')
Hogarth plays up the caricature of the subjects by exaggerating their physical appearances and dispositions. Hogarth may be credited with popularizing caricatures – but he wasn’t the first to use them. In fact, there is evidence of caricatures being used tracing all the way back to ancient history. For example: Roman theater utilized masked stock characters with exaggerated facial features.
What is Caricature? • Theatrical masks of Tragedy and Comedy, Roman Mosaic, 2nd Century AD. Capitoline Museums
This phenomenon was not unique to Ancient Rome either; we see evidence of caricatured performance art throughout world history, especially in Kabuki theater and Commedia dell’arte.
We’ll break down some more caricature examples in a bit, but first, let’s formally define caricature!
CARICATURE DEFINITION
What is caricature?
A caricature is an exaggerated description and/or visual representation of a subject that typically serves to critique and/or satirize them.
Caricature Styles
- Visual
- Descriptive
Famous Caricature Examples
What are some caricature examples?
We’ve established that “caricature” has existed as a phenomenon of critique for thousands of years, but the term is nowadays most commonly used to refer to a very specific style of drawing.
What is Caricature? • Famous Caricature Examples from MAD
Caricature drawings typically exaggerate facial features; sometimes to a grotesque degree. Interestingly, this aesthetic became popular on magazine covers in the 20th-century. Artists like David Levine, Sebastian Kruger, and more, popularized the aesthetic, especially in news/magazine print.
This next video from J.J. McCullough does a great job of examining the history of 20th-century and 21st-century caricature in further detail.
What is Caricature? • A History of Caricature by J.J. McCullough
The aesthetic of caricature is not quite as popular today; but it is still in use as a form for critique/satirization. This “New Yorker” caricature from Billy Blatt shows President Donald Trump attempting a surgery, much to the dismay of a team of surgeons.
What is Caricature? • Caricature Examples from The New Yorker, by Barry Blitt
Caricature is a descriptor in addition to being a visual aesthetic. For example: one might say that a President turning down medical expertise turns the Presidency itself into a caricature.
In this sense, “caricature” is a reductive term meant to minimize someone or something. Caricature can thus quickly devolve into stereotyping; which may be a contributing reason for the style’s decline.
In this example from Nathan for You, a caricature artist is tasked with creating “edgy” designs.
What is Caricature? • Caricature Artist in Nathan for You
Caricature artists, like “The King of Sting” from Nathan for You, often face accusations from disgruntled subjects they depict. But that makes sense: caricature is a reductive aesthetic that usually exaggerates people’s grossest features. It is also a form of fictional invention; so as to say that it is not necessarily a reflection of reality.
Up Next
What are the Types of Animation?
Caricature is just one style of visual art. Want to learn more about the different styles that structure the best animations? Check out our next article on “types of animations,” where we break down the styles, genres, and techniques from movies like Spirited Away, Space Jam, and more. By the end, you’ll know tons of new types of animation!
