Caricature of a Man Wearing a Wig and a Tricorne, Seen from Behind 1755 - 1765

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo made this caricature of a man in pen and brown wash on paper. The fluid strokes belie the labor that went into producing this artwork. Paper-making in Tiepolo's time was an entirely manual process. It began with pulping rags, which required a good deal of physical effort, especially for larger sheets. Then, the pulp was transferred to a mold, pressed, and hung to dry, a labor-intensive process. The production of ink involved grinding pigments and mixing them with a binder, demanding precision and care. The tools used were simple, but highly effective in the hands of a skilled artist. Tiepolo’s caricature isn't just an image; it embodies the social and economic realities of its time, reflecting both the labor involved in its creation and the culture it depicts. This drawing invites us to consider the value of skilled handwork and the connection between art, labor, and society.