Schetsblad met karikaturen 1744 - 1802

Gaetano Gandolfi made this caricature sketch with pen and brown ink, in the 18th century. At first glance, the composition is structured by a horizontal alignment of several figures, each rendered in profile, save for the figure on the left. This simple arrangement creates a rhythm, a visual cadence that pulls your eye from left to right. The uniformity in their alignment is disrupted by the variation in their features. The use of line is particularly striking. Gandolfi employs a delicate yet precise hand, using fine lines to delineate facial features, capturing every contour and wrinkle. The cross-hatching adds depth and volume. The texture of the paper contrasts with the fluidity of the ink. These caricatures invite a certain degree of interpretation. They challenge our understanding of portraiture. Gandolfi seems to ask: What is the essence of a person? Is it their physical form, or is it something deeper, something perhaps revealed in the exaggeration of their flaws?