Caricature, Cartoons, Comics, Comedy?

English Caricature:

"The arc of popularity for satirical prints in England began in the early 1700s, peaked in the 1790s, and declined in the early 1800s. During this time, thousands of prints were published in England. They were produced in editions of hundreds and sometimes thousands of copies. Today, the British Museum preserves 10,000 of these prints. Several thousand more in the U.S Library of Congress and other museums.

In the late-1700s, London printshops and booksellers displayed prints in their storefront windows. Crowds of customers, along with people who couldn't afford prints, crowded the sidewalks to see new works by William Hogarth, Isaac Cruikshank and others.

During this time, the term caricatura came into use in England as caricature. The printshops used the term to define a genre that included virtually any print with a satirical or humorous theme."

And, further from English Caricatures


"Today, these prints exist as one of the only visual forms to document the historical events of the day, the moods of the public, and the fashions of clothing. This era came to be known as the golden age of the English engraver."

See, for exaple: James Gillray's MONSTROUS CRAWS, at a New Coalition Feast



Or, for fashion, James Gillray's The V_____ Committe framing a Report

Or fungi, James Gillray's An Excrescence; __ a Fungus;



Now, French Caricature History:

“French political caricatures of the 19th century chronicle the gradual,
often-violent end of the Monarchy and the emergence of a democratic state. French rulers strictly regulated the popular press, especially satirical images. In a time when a large percentage of the population couldn't read, these images were seen as a greater threat to the established order than the printed word.

French caricaturists worked under government-imposed censorship throughout most of the 19th century. Artists and editors were imprisoned, fines were levied and newspapers were seized. Offenders were rigorously prosecuted for "press crimes," which authorities interpreted as alleged defamatory and subversive attacks on the government."

And, further:

“During the 1700's, the art of engraving was unrestricted but the sale of prints was subject to censorship through the lieutenant general of the police. Offenders could pay with their lives. One caricaturist was burned alive for portraying Louis XIV with his mistresses." Althought, apparently in England Gillray could get away with showing someone seeking "petticoat influence," QUESTION & COMMANDS; OR, the Road to HE_R_FORD; a Sunday Evenings Amusement


And, a bit further,

"Censors prevented the distribution of prints that were considered harmful to "religion, the general good and the peace of the State, and the purity of morals." Political prints from England were also seen as a threat and attempts were made to stop them before they entered France. But this ban on imported prints had limited effect and a large black market developed for English engravings."

All via, French Caricatures

For an example of Gillray on the French political situation, Gillray’s Destruction of the French Collossus

Later, "In the 1860s and 1870s, André Gill was the unchallenged master of caricature in France. Gill drew full-page colored illustrations of famous personalities that were published on the covers of large-format caricature journals. When displayed on newsstands, they functioned as political posters. His work for La Lune generated a circulation of 40,000 copies."

Examples, Gill’s L’Ecclise

Other caricaturists of note, Honoré Daumier's Le Charivari, Alfred Le Petit's
Le Grelot, and an example of Gill's modified and unmodified versions of Gill’s La Deliverance

Today, we have several types of caricature in America.

Political caricature: Andy And Davey Politicans and Royalty

And celebrity caricature: Gallery of the Absurd

And political or lifestyle caricatures-cartoons, New Yorker Cartoons

Most comics use caricature and can be single panels or a series of sequential panels.

Single examples, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad Cartoons

Sequential examples, Doonsburry Daily Dose http://www.paulgravett.com/articles/051_planb/maus_extract.jpg

There are also more elaborate, political graphic novels that are at times humerous and sometimes use caricature, sure as Art Spieglman's Maus Maus Panel

Then, of course, there are moving cartoons.

For example, old Disney cartoons via You tube that aren't so comic now but do use caricature:

and, not so terrible:


There are also caricatures that poke fun of caricatures, such as this Cox + Combs George Washington You Tube Vid:


Also, their are caricatures of forms, or types, of representation. So, for example, Kevin Kalliher's Home Honey, I'm High!, which can be seen here: Home Honey, I’m High

Then there are more normal forms of animation that use caricature, such as The Simpsons and Family Guy:


And then, thing, well, some other types of life-style documentation that may or may not fall somewhere else. . .

Zombie Yoga


And, last: American Furry: Life, Liberty, and the Fursuit of Happiness


Any questions?