Karikatuur van een apotheker uit Vichy 1866 - 1870

This caricature of a Vichy pharmacist was created by Victor Collodion, using lithography. Notice how the figure dominates the composition, perched precariously on a central structure with a disproportionately large head that immediately captures our attention. The artist exaggerates the pharmacist's features, emphasizing the nose and brow to create a sense of pompousness. Look at the scene below, filled with smaller figures engaged in lively social activities that appear to contrast the pharmacist’s aloofness. The lithographic technique allows Collodion to render fine details, evident in the intricate cross-hatching and shading that define textures and forms. This interplay between exaggerated form and detailed execution serves to destabilize our perception. Collodion prompts us to question not only the individual but also the societal structures they inhabit. It challenges the traditional values associated with social status.