Karikatuur van een oude, opgedirkte vrouw

This caricature of an old woman was drawn by Pier Francesco Mola, probably during the 17th century. The use of pen and brown ink wash creates a stark contrast, emphasizing the exaggerated features of the subject. Notice the repetition of lines that define the ruffles of her collar and the contours of her face, which suggests a concern with surface texture and pattern. The flatness of the composition, typical of caricature, directs our focus to the semiotic play of signs. Mola uses specific visual cues – the feathered hat, the pinched mouth, and the layered clothing – to signal vanity and social pretension. The caricature challenges fixed meanings, using distortion to subvert conventional ideals of beauty and status. The exaggerated form serves as a critique, highlighting how social roles and appearances can be constructed and destabilized.