Caricature of Louis Marie de la Haye, Vicomte de Cormenin (alias Timon) 1859

Hippolyte Mailly created this caricature of Louis Marie de la Haye, Vicomte de Cormenin, also known as Timon, in 1859. The drawing captures the French jurist and political writer during a period of significant social and political upheaval in France. Mailly's caricature leverages the visual language of satire to critique Cormenin's public image and possibly his political stances. Caricatures often served as potent tools for expressing political opinions. The exaggerated features in Mailly's rendering tap into a broader cultural discourse of the time, where physical appearance was often unfairly linked to character and moral standing. These caricatures not only reflect the contentious politics of 19th-century France but also reveal the ways in which personal identity was publicly negotiated and contested through visual media. The drawing prompts us to consider the complex interplay between public perception, political identity, and the artist’s critical perspective.