“Beware of the dog!” Caricature in Rijeka

The exhibition presents a selection of caricatures and illustrations on the political situation in Rijeka in the first half of the 20th century, with an emphasis on the period around the two World Wars. A caricature is not a funny drawing as is often thought. It is, admittedly, indeed based on wit that arises from exaggeration in the portrayal of physiognomies in a broader sense, however, with the clear aim of conveying a certain critique. Gradually penetrating the works of avant-garde artists at the beginning of the 20th century, caricature connected the high and popular art, and humor became an integral part of the works of some contemporary authors. It seems that it was this fact that influenced the gradual decline in interest in caricature as a separate genre.

Author: Deborah Pustišek Antić