Caricature of Henri Cassinelli c. 1858

Here we have Claude Monet's sketch, 'Caricature of Henri Cassinelli.' Monet made this sketch within a particular social milieu, where caricature was not just a form of entertainment, but a commentary on identity and status. The exaggerated features, the large nose, and the pipe all speak to a culture of observation and social critique. But what does it mean to exaggerate someone's features? What does it mean to flatten them into a stereotype? The act of caricature is deeply rooted in power dynamics, defining both the subject and the artist within society. The sketch is both a personal expression and a reflection of societal attitudes, revealing the complexities of human interaction and the ways we perceive one another.