Caricatures have been around as long as people have. When we mock or tease someone, we do it by caricaturing them–exaggerating their features or mannerisms. My acting students once did a “celebrity roast” of me, imitating idiosyncrasies I barely knew I had. When I said, “Really?” they all shouted back, “Yes, really!” Caricatures may be affectionate or cruel, but they are always instructive, either about the subject or the caricaturist. As long as there are individuals, there will be caricatures. But let us be careful never to become caricatures of ourselves.
Click on any image to enlarge it, or to start slide show.
“A caricature is putting the face of a joke on the body of a truth.” ~Joseph Conrad
“There’s nothing needs such mathematical precision as a wild caricature.” ~G K Chesterton
“All cartoon characters and fables must be exaggeration, caricatures. It is the very nature of fantasy and fable.” ~Walt Disney
“The ones who constantly make us laugh are the hardest of friends to know – for comedians are the caricatures among us.” ~Criss Jami
“What’s natural is beautiful, and when you’re not you anymore, you become a caricature.” ~Monica Bellucci
“Caricature is rough truth.” ~George Meredith
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“This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
~William Shakespeare
Thank for sharing, I love them all, Young Frankenstein is positively aweseom,
Hi, I forgot about those, that is so cool! 🙂
i want to teach them
Fantastico!!!
Thank you, Mitch, for this review. The commentary, the images, the quotations all work together effectively. Hey, maybe the cave paintings were caricatures, too. (That buffalo’s shoulder was really not that big; that spear was not that long.)
;>)
Nice
I recall a talent show we had at our church a while back. One of our very talented members did a caricatural presentation of our pastor, everything from the type of suit he wears, the slow and solemn walk he presents as he walks to the rostrum, to the oversized handkerchief he flops open before he begins to preach. Laughter shattered the atmosphere in the place, and our pastor was rolling (figuratively) in the isles, too.
;>)
It’s baffling how someone’s features can be distorted so drastically in caricatures and still be easily recognized. 🙂
An enjoyable journey. There is one distinction that I think it is helpful to make. Most public caricatures are presented in a good-natured way… and that goodwill tends to shine through. There are, however, people who despise the person they are caricaturing… and that dark spirit also tends to be evident.
I agree, Rob.
It’s amazing how we can readily recognize the person in the caricature even with all the distortions. I guess that proves the Joseph Conrad quote about being truth in a caricature. (Good heavens, it took me three tries to spell “caricature” right!)
;>)
😁
Caricatures reveal hidden truths behind human masks
This is quite interesting, Mitch. Good and deeper lessons in here. Loved them all, but my favorites were Putin as Gollum, President Obama’s smile, the Beatles, and Sylvester Stallone. Thanks!!
I never knew Pope Francis played guitar left-handed!
Caricatures are the len that shows the hidden truth.
lol had a giggle at these, nice.
Glad you enjoyed it, William.
While funny, I was struck with the truth and sadness of this quote–“The ones who constantly make us laugh are the hardest of friends to know – for comedians are the caricatures among us.” Wow—how many, including me, hide behind the laughter. Thanks for sharing these Mitch!
My pleasure, Katie!
Did you draw those.. fantasic
No, just gathered them. Glad you enjoyed the collection, Mr Ken.