Karikatuur van een oude, opgedirkte vrouw 1622 - 1666

This caricature of an old woman was drawn by Pier Francesco Mola, probably during the 17th century. The use of pen and brown ink wash creates a stark contrast, emphasizing the exaggerated features of the subject. Notice the repetition of lines that define the ruffles of her collar and the contours of her face, which suggests a concern with surface texture and pattern. The flatness of the composition, typical of caricature, directs our focus to the semiotic play of signs. Mola uses specific visual cues – the feathered hat, the pinched mouth, and the layered clothing – to signal vanity and social pretension. The caricature challenges fixed meanings, using distortion to subvert conventional ideals of beauty and status. The exaggerated form serves as a critique, highlighting how social roles and appearances can be constructed and destabilized.