A Brief History of the Caricature
The term, caricature [kar-i-kuh-cher or -choor], is taken from the Italian word caricare meaning, to charge or to load. In other words, to pack in as much meaning as possible.
While capturing a person's likeness,
a caricature or cartoon portrait, over simplifies and exaggerates
the unique features of the subject.
In the tradition of the editorial
cartoon a political caricature can be cutting. However, entertainment and humor magazine caricatures, by example of Mad Magazine, can be light hearted.
Looking back through history the
Romans must have enjoyed the caricature. A cartoon portrait, of who is assumed was a politician, is carved on an ancient Pompeii monument
(see right).
Through the late Renaissance the
caricature found favor with French and Italian aristocrats who enjoyed sharing cartoon portraits for mutual enjoyment.
Renaissance
artist and inventor, Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), enjoyed the caricature and frequently sought out people with highly unusual
facial features to use as models.
Baroque painter, Annibale
Caracci (1560-1609), introduced the caricature as a distinct art form. During his time his contemporaries
created trendy portraits which were as beauty as possible. Caracci moved his work in the opposite direction. Called the antithesis of
beauty, his portraits were loaded with meaning.
Papal architect and sculptor,
Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680), as also an accomplished caricaturist. He mastered economy of line by
creating caricatures with minimal strokes of his pen.
In and around 1762 the British
print seller, caricaturist, artist, engraver, writer, teacher and author Mary Darly wrote, illustrated and published the first book
about the caricature entitled A Book of Caricatures[sic]. The book appealed to young gentlemen and ladies of her generation.
The English were exceptional practitioners
of the scathing or bitterly severe caricature. The eighteenth century saw the emergence of two accomplished caricaturists,
Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827) and James Gillray (1757–1815). Gillray (also spelled Gilray) and Rowlandson continue to influence caricaturists today.
