History and concept of caricature: what is classical and modern caricature?

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History and concept of caricature: what is classical and modern caricature?
History and concept of caricature: what is classical and modern caricature?

Video: History and concept of caricature: what is classical and modern caricature?

Video: History and concept of caricature: what is classical and modern caricature?
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Caricature (translated from Italian) means exaggeration. Similar genres to it are caricature, grotesque and lubok.

Caricature: what is it?

Art is constantly changing, more and more of its forms appear. Caricature is a long-standing genre of painting. Art historians know the two most basic concepts that can characterize this genre:

1. A humorous image in which the comic effect is achieved by exaggerating and sharpening the main features, as well as using unusual artistic techniques, similes and comparisons.

cartoons what is
cartoons what is

2. A graphic genre that satirically depicts significant social, political, historical events or describes a certain type of people.

Having received an answer to the question: "Caricatures - what is it?", It will be very interesting to know the history of the emergence of this art direction. And it originated a very long time ago.

Caricature since ancient times was considered a very effective way to laugh at an opponent, emphasizing his shortcomings. In addition, it reflects the current problems of society.

women cartoons
women cartoons

So, it is known that the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte fiercely hated the French caricatures, which represented him as a dwarf in a huge three-cornered hat. The commander-in-chief of the troops, Mikhail Kutuzov, even ordered the creation of a special art headquarters, which was engaged in the creation of drawings mocking the Corsican.

Caricatures in pre-revolutionary Russia

In our country, all new trends traditionally came from Europe. In the 19th century, the aristocracy of Russia became acquainted with such a genre of art as French caricatures. The development of this genre was very closely intertwined with journalism. First, funny drawings were published in newspapers, and under them an explanation of what was depicted in the caricature was added. Later, the need for signatures disappeared. The drawing technique was getting better and it was no longer necessary to additionally describe what meaning it carries. However, the tsarist censorship exercised the strictest control over the development of caricature. What is government oversight does not need to be explained. Any image that the bureaucrats considered a threat to the political order was not allowed to print. However, the development of caricature as a genre was already unstoppable. The most caustic images were passed from hand to hand and even redrawn.

But the official cartoon also evolved. Many serious publications devoted entire pages to humorous sections. Most often, the cartoons did not touch upon acute social and political problems, but depicted unsuccessful artists, small traders and stealing officials. were also very popular andcartoons that became the embodiment of idle gossip, often without any basis. So, caricatures of women moving in acting circles brought a lot of emotions to the latter.

french cartoons
french cartoons

In the middle of the 19th century, the first Russian satire magazine "Yeralash" appeared under the publishing house of the famous artist Nevakhovich, who often created drawings for the numbers himself.

Caricature in the USSR

In the Soviet Union, all spheres of life, including art, were subordinated to one goal - the fight against an external enemy, capitalism, and the moral costs of building socialism. The main themes for cartoons were drunkenness, laziness, parasitism, and petty hooliganism. These qualities were harshly ridiculed by popular magazines and newspapers. But, as in any totalitarian regime, there was also the direction of underground caricature. What is the abuse of power, censorship, arbitrariness of local officials and the imperfection of the new political system - these are the main questions that the artists tried to answer with the help of caustic drawings.

Modern cartoons

After the USSR collapsed, the need for total censorship disappeared. Now almost all topics have been opened. But political cartoons were the most popular. Caricatures of modern officials and public figures filled all the media. The artists especially liked the image of the odious Vladimir Zhirinovsky. Also, cartoons were drawn on new topics: criminals, oligarchs, new views onpolitical struggle. Now they can be found on the Internet.

caricature translation
caricature translation

Museums of cartoons

Each genre of art deserves to dedicate separate exhibitions to it. So, in 2011, the humor museum "Merry Stairs" was opened in Voronezh. Its founder was the popular cartoonist Ivan Anchukov. The museum has both permanent exhibitions and a wall where all interested young and talented artists can post their works. In the future, I. Anchukov plans to open a school of caricature. Museum visitors will love the archives, which contain drawings from different eras, posters, humorous road signs, T-shirts and T-shirts with funny pictures, funny postcards, and unique author's sketches. The creator of the museum came up with and brought to life the original chessboard with cartoon images on it.

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