History of Caricature

BACKGROUND:
Caricature art has a long history dating back to the days of Leonardo da Vinci to modern
times as a major art form. But it is an art form that is often misunderstood. It is an
enormously popular art form-and yet it is also very under-rated. In fact, at one time to
openly discuss caricature as "art" was considered a silly presumption worthy of ridicule. In
the intervening years, however, recognition and acceptance has fertilized the soil and this
unique art form is apart of the cultural establishment. Why, consider caricature artist Anita
Kunz! Her caricature paintings had a solo display at the Library of Congress! How more
"establishment" can you get than that? Now, in a culture warmed by serious adult
attention, caricature artists can attempt new growth in an area that formally was look
down upon. Humor was considered "lowbrow"-and it was exactly this kind of thinking that
has prevented caricaturists from enjoying a position closer to the top of the hierarchy. No,
Bohemian Odyssey is not about amusement park caricature artists who whip off a fast
marker sketch for a few bucks. This is one reason why, among other setbacks, caricature
art has been dealt a deadly blow by art historians and by art critics. There has been a
battle among caricaturists and the snob "art Guardians" in art history, but this art form
has thrived-and that's why this project is called BOHEMIAN ODYSSEY!
But I do not need to defend the medium. Critically important works like Understanding
Comics or Sebastian Kruger's STARS or Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer for MAUS stand on their
own-anybody who does not consider this worthy of artistic relevance is sleeping as the
wheel! (I should also mention here my own forthcoming coffee-table book-- "Icons and
Idols").
The documentary film Bohemian Odyssey seeks not only to educate art fans about this
amazing art form, but to also astound and entertain. It must be stressed that the art that
would appear in Bohemian Odyssey is so fantastically stunning and original that it
demands an audience! Bohemian Odyssey would be the definitive documentary.

MARKET APPLEL:
Today, the popularity of caricature-and indeed other comic art forms-is all around us! This
is not only evident by the sheer popularity of "adult" shows like the Simpsons, South Park
among many others. Let's not forget the critically acclaimed documentary films Crumb
(the underground artist who now enjoys mainstream appeal) and Comic Confidential.
There is also an organization in the U.S. called the National Caricature Network (NCN for
short) that celebrates caricature art. On the recent front: Let's not forget about Robert
Pulcini's film adaptation of Harvey Pekar's underground comic series. Of course, these are
just a few examples.
BOHEMIAN ODYSSEY is all encompassing in its focus about caricature art. This film will
appeal to both art buffs and "culture buffs"-- given the various historic figures and icons
who are the unwitting subjects of the artists pointed pencils. Bohemian Odyssey is a
documentary that will not only appeal to geeky teens that sniff air plane glue (kidding
aside) it will captivate all intelligent men and women from all walks of life (and even art
historians will find it edifying). Bohemian Odyssey has both snob and mob appeal.

STYLE:
BOHEMIAN ODYSSEY will move through a roughly chronological storyline, hitting major
moments in the long history of caricature art. The history of caricature art, it should be
noted, is often spotted with controversy. This challenging art has often found itself caught
in the political crosshairs of the powerful and continues to be step on toes to this day. This
portion of the show will be guided by visuals of famous artist's work (such as Leonardo da
Vinci who is not noted in history as a caricature artist, but who nevertheless experimented
in this art form!) and by a voice-over narrative. Many historic facts about this art form will
be swift but always interesting.

MODERN FAMOUS ARTISTS:

More importantly, Bohemian Odyssey will provide the opportunity to see modern caricature
artists discussing their work and their ideas about humor, caricature and art in general.

The flow of the film will alternate back and forth between the historical retrospective and
the interviews in a logical format as subject matter dictates. The show will consist of
informal interviews with diverse artists so that we may discover what makes these rare
men and women tick, what inspires them, and why they caricature in the first place. The
interview subjects will consist of modern caricaturists who are either famous or (semifamous) or who are simply noted for their exceptional technique and innovative ideas. The
show will allow each artist just enough time to get across what he or she brings to the
medium that is unique and interesting. Naturally, as each artist speaks, we will have
ample examples to view the artist's work.
Bohemian Odyssey will not spoon feed any one philosophy about caricature art. Rather,
the viewer will be offered broad facts about its history, but we will listen to various ideas
and opinions expressed by very different caricature artists and come to our own conclusion
about caricature art. This much is for sure: BOHEMIAM ODYSSEY will be exciting, edgy and
modern. It will appeal to the heart, the mind and the eye. The viewer will be amazed and
awed by the stunning art work. The viewer will learn why caricature art is a crucial and
undeniable element of modern culture. Thank you!
The human heart trusts the caricature -- which is all opinion," even though we may not
agree with the caricaturist about the particular subject. Find more educational material:
Royoung Bookseller: A History of Caricature. by Lynch, Bohun. ... Title: A History of
Caricature. Author: Lynch, Bohun. Description: Boston: Little, Brown, 1927. First edition.
126 in text . www.royoung.com/cgi-bin/ryb455/16300.html
Political Cartoons of the Lilly Library history of caricature. As ...
www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/cartoon/cartoons.html
LOUIS COLLINS BOOKS ABAA: A History of Caricature and Grotesque in ... ... Title: A
History of Caricature and Grotesque in Literature and Art introduction by Frances
Barasch. Author: WRIGHT (Thomas). ... www.collinsbooks.com/cgi-bin/lcb455/24919.html
A History of Caricature and Grotesque in Literature and Art. by ... Wright, Thomas. A
History of Caricature and Grotesque in Literature and Art. London: Virtue Brothers, [1865].
FW Fairholt, Engraver. Marbled endpapers. ... www.art-books.com/cgi-bin/artbooks/990093.html
Gombrich on Caricature section 3 ... D. Low, Ye Madde Designer, London, 1935. B. Lynch,
A History of Caricature, London, 1926. T. Wright, A History of Caricature, London, 1865. ...
www.newcastle.edu.au/discipline/ fine-art/pubs/ernst/gombrich3.html
George Glazer Gallery - Natural History Collectors Caricature - Matters of Taste No. 1
George Glazer Gallery, New York City. Antique prints, maps and globes. Natural History
Collectors Caricature - Matters of Taste No. 1. ... www.georgeglazer.com/archives/
prints/genre/mattersoftaste.html

About Caricatures

Did you know Leonardo Da

Vinci drew caricatures? So
did Monet, and Daumier.
Along with all sorts of
Caricatures by Da Vinci
people you wouldnt expect,
like Dick Van Dyke and
George Clooney.
Merriam-Websters Di
word caricature comes fro
Caricature by Daumier: Gargantua
load, and that it means e
often ludicrous distortion
In his book, How to Draw Caricatures, Lenn Redman wrote that
the essence of caricature is exaggerationnot distortion. He
suggests that caricaturists exaggerate for the sake of truth, as
opposed to distorting in order to deny that truth. If you spend
some time glancing through our celebrity examples, youll see
that some caricaturists can stretch that exaggeration to extremes,
while others gently create kind cartoon portraits.
Many caricature artists shape the way todays caricaturists draw
and approach their art. Some shaped the very society in which
they lived.

Caricature by Charles Philipon: La Mtamorphose du roi Louis-Philippe en poire

(The Metamorphosis of King Louis-Philippe into a Pear)

Charles Philipon, o
Caricature, so offended t
Philippe with his carica
throw

In the early 1800s in Fran

the first to portray Louisto the shape of the king's

pun. The symbol quickly

the universal symbol for L
It appeared often in caric
were sold as souvenirs. Fi
caricatures and magazine,
the freedom of press and
car
In the mid-to-late 1800s, Thomas Nast became the
most influential American political cartoonist of
the time, helping to bring down the Boss Tweed
ring and New York's corrupt Tammany Hall
political machine with his caricatures. Along the
way, he created our popular image of Santa Claus
and the G.O.P. elephant.
The turn of the century
brought the stylized works of
Mexican American Miguel
Covarrubias who was
published in Vanity Fair,
Fortunes, and the New
Caricature by Miguel Covarrubias: Self
Yorker. His pen and ink work
Portrait
was sharply geometric and his
watercolors and goaches still
maintained the same dramatic
yet highly stylized
exaggeration.
Al Hirschfeld was born in 1903 and was still
publishing caricatures when he died in 2003. He
will always be remembered for his caricatures of
the New York theatre. The simple, elegant,
economical lines that were his trademark made
him perhaps the most famous caricaturist of our
time.

Caricature by Thomas N

Mort Drucker has been drawing caricatures and covers for MAD
magazine since 1955. His penciled and pen and ink movie
parodies include many celebrities, drawn again and again, from

Caric
Impossible Intervie

self caricat

many vantage points, each time with different expressions. The

parody of The Sopranos, illustrated below, is typical of his spot
on likenesses and humorous renditions which have inspired
generations of adolescents to want to learn to draw caricatures.
Not limited to MAD, he has done freelance advertising for
clients ranging from McDonald's to HBO. His covers span US
magazine to Business Week to TIME magazine. His Time
covers are in National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian
institute inWashington, D.C..
Jack Davis, another MAD magazine contributor, is a
master of color. His rubbery creations, often
grotesque, always sporting oversized hands and feet,
are beautifully yet rapidly rendered. He has drawn 36
covers for Time magazine as well as many for TV
guide.
His distortion and
exaggeration is almost beyond
belief, yet German caricature
artist Sebastian Kruger retains
a distinct likeness in all of his
work. When addressing the
National Caricaturist Network
as their guest speaker in 2000
and again in 2003, he
explained how he uses
acrylics to create his surreal
art.

caricature by Jack D

caricature by Se

The NCN is an association of caricature artists from around the

world. At their annual convention, they have a competition
among attending artists. Here are samples from the winners
from the past few years.
Batman splash page for MAD by Tom Richmond, 2000,
1999 winner

Michael Jordan by Steve

Silver, 2001 Winner

Morgan Freeman by Paul Gaunt, 20

Elvis by Roger Hurtado, 2004 Winner

Clint Eastwood by Court

Jones, 2005 Winner

Donald Trump by Chris Romm

These few artists only scratch the surface. Names like

Steadman, Sorel, Scarfe, and Staake come to mind. And those
are just the ones beginning with an S!
Quick sketch retail caricature artists today work in theme parks,
in malls, at resorts. Party artists caricature at private parties,
conventions and banquets. Illustrators work freelance,
publishing their work in magazines and papers. Finally, a small
number exhibit their work in galleries and museums. There are
few rich caricature artists, but many of them who enjoy their
work.