Caricature: The Culture and Politics of Satire

3 units

This course examines the golden age of caricature. Beginning with the prints of William Hogarth, we will look at the caricatural traditions in France and England from the late 18th century through the early 20th century. Special emphasis will be placed on visual satire as a vehicle for social and political critique; on theories of humor (particularly Baudelaire and Bakhtin); and on the development of a mass market for this imagery. Other figures to be discussed include Rowlandson, Cruikshank, Daumier, Gavarni, Philipon, and Gil. We will take advantage of a major collection of French caricature in the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum at Washington University as well as collections available for study in Olin Library and at the Saint Louis Art Museum.