CARICATURE (Ital. caricature, from caruicare, to load or overcharge). The etymology of this word indicates its meaning very distinctly, which is that of a representation of a face, form, or character, in which the salient features are exaggerated or overloaded, to the extent of producing a ludicrous effect, without entirely, or even essentially destroy ing the resemblance. C. may be regarded as the opposite of idealization ; the former consisting in a disproportionate development of some, very frequently of one only, of the characteristics of the subject treated, the latter in a proportionate elevation of them all. Nay, further, the destruction of harmony is essential to C., and where harmony is the prevailing quality of its subject, the required effect may frequently be produced by this means alone; whereas harmony belongs of necessity to idealization, and where its absence was the characteristic defect of the object as a real existence, an ideal of a humble kind may frequently be produced by simply restoring It.
When used with reference to sensible representation, C. stands, to the genuine productions of the plastic and pictorial arts, in the same relation in which farce stands to the legitimate drama. Both C. and farce are thus degenerate forms of art; and though requiring much cleverness for their successful execution, and often afford ing lively satisfaction to the spectator, can scarcely be said in general to have an elevating object, or any other tendency than to amuse. When used as ancillary to well-directed and merited satire, C. assumes a noble character, and it is to the credit of our nation that it is so frequently thus employed in our ephemeral literature. The best examples of C. which have ever appeared in the literature of any people, are to be found in the pages of Punch.