Five Caricatures of Men (recto); Sketch of Male Figure and Bird (verso) n.d.

Faustino Bocchi sketched these Five Caricatures of Men in graphite sometime between the late 17th and early 18th century. Bocchi lived and worked in Brescia, Italy, an area then under Venetian rule. In this drawing, Bocchi satirizes the appearance and mannerisms of the lower classes. These caricatures amplify physical features to humorous effect. Note the oversized noses, heavy brows, and jutting jaws. The figures are comically diminutive, with disproportionately large heads. They wear working-class attire such as simple caps and tunics. During the Baroque era, caricature emerged as a popular form of social commentary. Artists like Bocchi used it to critique the characteristics and behaviors of different social groups. However, these types of portrayals can reflect and perpetuate existing class prejudices. Bocchi’s caricatures offer a glimpse into the social hierarchies of his time, inviting us to reflect on the often unflattering ways we perceive one another.