Centuries of Caricature: Critiquing Cultural Conflicts

The exhibition introduces 19th- and 20th-century caricature from Europe and the United States. Social and political conflicts raged during this period, from world wars to the major ideological struggle between communism and capitalism. Caricature served as a method to censure enemies and politically skewer opponents. Within the realm of caricature, artists availed themselves of multiple methods of visual attack—some chose animals to symbolize their subjects, others utilized diabolical imagery, and yet others worked caricature into a comic setting, considering comic both linguistically and as an art genre.

Students in Julia Sapin’s Art History 490: Exhibition Theory and Practice class co-curated the exhibit by dedicating themselves to understanding the theories that inform exhibition practices, and researching, writing, and refining interpretive exhibit labels to help viewers explore different categories of caricature and delve into the operations of the individual images.

The exhibit is available for viewing Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment (closed weekends and holidays). It is free and open to the public. For more information or to schedule class or group visits, please contact Michael Taylor, Special Collections Librarian, taylo213@wwu.edu, (360) 650-3097.