Caricature of Auguste Vacquerie c. 1859

This is Claude Monet’s caricature of Auguste Vacquerie, made with graphite on paper, and held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Notice how Monet manipulates scale and proportion, exaggerating Vacquerie’s features to create an immediate, striking impression. The head is disproportionately large, balanced precariously on a diminutive body, with a focus on the prominent nose and flowing beard rendered with dense, energetic lines. The composition uses stark contrasts in shading to define form, emphasizing the weight and volume of the head against the flatness of the body. Monet reduces Vacquerie to a series of essential lines and shapes, challenging traditional portraiture conventions. The figure's stance, with hands clasped behind the back, adds a layer of complexity, perhaps hinting at self-importance or an attempt at dignified composure. The caricature destabilizes established notions of representation and meaning. The use of line and form becomes a powerful tool for expression, inviting us to reconsider the relationship between appearance and identity.