karikierte

Karikierte is the past participle and adjectival form of the German verb karikieren. It describes something that has been rendered as a caricature, typically a drawing, painting, or depiction in which features or traits are exaggerated for satirical or critical effect. As a participle or adjective, karikierte can modify a noun, for example: eine karikierte Darstellung, eine karikierte Figur. It also appears in simple past constructions, as in der Karikaturer karikierte den Präsidenten.

Etymology and meaning: The term Karikatur stems from the Italian caricatura (and related forms in other Romance languages) and was adopted into German in the early modern period. The verb karikieren is derived from this noun and means to create or depict a caricature—an artwork or portrayal that emphasizes distinctive traits through exaggeration.

Usage and context: Caricatures exaggerate recognizable features or behaviors to convey satire, critique, or humor. They are common in newspapers, magazines, political cartoons, comic art, and certain forms of visual commentary. While often used to lampoon public figures, caricatures can also appear in broader social or cultural contexts. The concept raises considerations of taste, ethics, and the balance between satire and offense, depending on the subject and audience.

Grammatical notes: karikierte may be the simple past tense form of karikieren (er/sie/es karikierte) or the adjectival form meaning “caricatured,” agreeing with the noun it modifies (eine karikierte Darstellung, karikierte Figuren).

See also: Karikatur, Satire, politische Karikatur.