Caricature of Léon Gambetta 1870

André Gill created this caricature of Léon Gambetta using lithography. Immediately, one notices the distortion of form, an exaggeration of Gambetta’s features into bulbous shapes. The colour palette is restrained, heightening the impact of the exaggerated features. Gill's caricature relies on a system of visual signs to mock Gambetta. The most striking aspect is the outsized head and facial features, which suggest an inflated ego or intellect. Note how the cabbage under his chin and the goat he is holding are visually disruptive, each element laden with symbolic meaning that challenges fixed notions of political integrity. Through caricature, Gill destabilizes established meanings associated with political figures, turning the visual language of representation into a tool for satire and critique. The distorted form serves not merely as an aesthetic choice, but as a potent signifier of social and political commentary.