Caricature of a Man in the Small Hat 1855 - 1856

Claude Monet made this caricature of a man in a small hat with graphite on paper. Here, we see a satirical rendering of a bourgeois man, slouched over a desk, perhaps at work. This kind of caricature flourished in the Parisian press in the 19th century as political and social satire gained popularity. The ‘bourgeois’ class, with its emphasis on hard work, financial success, and social propriety, often came under scrutiny from artists and writers seeking to challenge prevailing norms. Honoré Daumier, for example, made a name for himself by lampooning the French middle class. Monet’s work can be understood as part of this critical tradition. The artist has given the figure an exaggerated profile to highlight what he might have seen as the subject's self-importance. To understand the social function of caricature, we must look at the historical context in which it was made. The growth of the press, the rise of democratic ideals, and the increasing visibility of the middle class all played a role in shaping its development.