Caricature of a Man in a Long Cloak, Standing in Profile to the Left 1755 - 1765

Editor: This ink drawing, "Caricature of a Man in a Long Cloak, Standing in Profile to the Left," by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, circa 1755-1765, immediately strikes me as rather odd, and humorous, mostly due to the man’s elongated nose. What do you make of it? Curator: The exaggeration you notice, the prominent nose, is key to understanding caricature as a genre. It’s not simply about humor, though. Consider the long cloak, obscuring the body. What psychological effect does that concealment achieve, especially contrasted with the sharp, exposed nose? Editor: I suppose it makes him seem mysterious, almost like he is hiding. And because it is a caricature, the cloak could indicate the man is pretentious or trying to hide his true nature. Curator: Precisely. In Tiepolo's time, caricature was used as social commentary, often revealing hidden flaws or criticizing the vanity of the upper classes. Do you notice any other symbolic details that contribute to this interpretation? Perhaps look closely at the hat. Editor: Now that you point it out, the hat, almost comically tall and pointed, suggests a kind of foolishness, like he is trying too hard to present himself as important. Curator: The image carries a heavy cultural load, a reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that power, when mocked, can lose its gravitas. Editor: I hadn't considered the social implications, but seeing the symbols of vanity and pretense helps me understand Tiepolo's aim. Curator: Art holds such cultural information about shared history and can challenge even what we think we know to be true, at times. Editor: Thank you for expanding my thinking about this unique art work.