caricatural

Caricatural is an adjective used to describe something that resembles or is characteristic of a caricature. The term derives from the noun caricature, which in turn originates from the Italian caricatura, referring to an exaggerated or distorted representation, commonly used for satirical effect. In art and criticism, something described as caricatural emphasizes certain features, mannerisms, or traits to an extreme or simplified degree, often to critique or amuse. It can apply to drawings, sculpture, or paintings, as well as to literary descriptions, performances, or spoken rhetoric that adopts a similarly exaggerated mode.

A caricatural depiction tends to distort physiognomy or pose, flattening complex nuance into recognizable caricatured cues. The exaggeration may be overt, such as enlarged heads, elongated limbs, or heightened expressions, or more subtle, focusing on recurring gestures or vocal patterns. The effect is not merely humorous; it can reveal social, political, or moral stances by foregrounding traits associated with a person or idea.

Historically, caricature emerged in Renaissance Italy as a means of satirical drawing and commentary. It developed into a prolific practice in Europe from the 18th century onward, especially in political and social contexts, with notable practitioners such as Honoré Daumier and James Gillray. In contemporary usage, caricatural is employed in both visual arts and prose to describe stylized, exaggerated representation that aims to comment on character or circumstance without intending to reproduce a naturalistic likeness.