Caricaturism is an art form that makes use of Caricature and exaggerates certain elements present in an artwork to create an artistic rendering of a subject's likeness, often painted by street vendors. Caricaturism can be both humoristic and grotesque, with larger-than-life features that sometimes border on the absurd.[1]
Commonly political figures like Donald Trump, and/or other political figures are usually depicted in comics[2] using this art form[3]
Visuals[]
Visual elements in caricatures distort reality, where not only people, but also animals, objects, landscapes, and essentially any element present in the artwork is prone to be exaggerated and distorted.
Many modern artworks often make use of cartoon-esque elements, and occasionally grotesque features such as realistic textures and shading effects are also applied, especially when the character inspires disgust or is a villain itself.
Usage[]
Caricaturism is a versatile art style that can be found in:
- Political memes/comics: Satirical caricatures critiquing politics.
- The entertainment industry: Caricatures in comics, cartoons, and humorous depictions.
- Social media memes: Caricatures as humorous elements in viral content.
- Toys and collectibles: Exaggerated caricatures in action figures and collectibles.
- Editorial illustrations: Humorous commentary through caricatures.
Rage Comics[]
Rage Comics are comics that us a a set of pre-made and/or drawn cartoon faces, Rage Faces, to express emotions or mundane activities.
Rage comics are normally poorly created and drawn comics, often created with MS Paint, made to express different emotions. The most well known rage face is the Troll face, which expresses the action of "trolling". Rage comics were at their peak in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Wojak[]
Wojak is a simple black-and-white MS Paint drawing of a bald man that originated in 2009. The character has seen many variations over time, including the Doomer, Soyjak, and Coomer among others, which are often collectively called Wojak. Wojak are often used to make comics and parodies.
Related Aesthetics[]
Grotesque[]
Main article: Grotesque
Grotesque has come to be used as a general adjective for the strange, mysterious, magnificent, fantastic, hideous, ugly, incongruous, unpleasant, or disgusting.
History[]
Originating in the 16th century, Caricaturism gained popularity during the Renaissance as artist like Leonardo da Vinci[4][5] explored exaggerated features in their artwork. However, it was in the 18th and 19th centuries that Caricaturism truly flourished. Renowned artists such as James Gillray and Thomas Nast used their humoristic and often satirical depictions to critique social and political issues.[3]
Fast forward to the present day, Caricatures have found their way into the memes. In today's digital age, caricatures serve as a source of humor and commentary, often spreading on social media. Whether it's poking fun at public figures[2], or portraying a famous person, caricatures have become a popular form of visual expression.
Media[]
Film[]
- "Freaks" (1932)
- "Pink Floyd The Wall" (1982)
- "Beetlejuice" (1988)
- "The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen" (1988)
- "Edward Scissorhands" (1990)
- "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (2004)
- "The League of Gentlemen" (2005)
- "Corpse Bride" (2005)
- "Coraline" (2009)
Television[]
- SpongeBob SquarePants (1999) - certain scenes
- Mad (2010) - Used very often
- The Twisted Whiskers Show (2010) - art concepts
- The Amazing World of Gumball (2011) - certain scenes
- Teen Titans Go! (2013) - certain scenes
- Clarence (2014) - Title cards
- The Freak Brothers (2021)
Gallery[]
Resources[]
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ Caricature Art. National Gallery of Art. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}. Archived.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "became a way for artists to ridicule public figures and politicians.". {{{website}}}. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}. Archived.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Thomas Nast, a renowned artist, crafted influential political caricatures in the 19th century. His work remains impactful today.. {{{website}}}. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}. Archived.
- ↑ Caricature in Da Vinci Artworks. {{{website}}}. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}. Archived.
- ↑ "Did you know that Leonardo Da Vinci drew caricatures? During the European Renaissance, successful artists were expected to capture their subjects as realistically as possible". {{{website}}}. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}. Archived.