Political cartoon

A satirical illustration that uses caricature, symbolism, or humor to comment on political events, public figures, or government policy.

Caricature: A representation that exaggerates distinctive features to make a person or subject recognizable and expressive. Exaggerated likeness makes political figures identifiable while turning their traits into criticism.
William Hogarth: An English painter and printmaker known for satirical narrative engravings in the eighteenth century. His prints established influential models for making social and political criticism through images.
Editorial cartoon: A newspaper or magazine illustration expressing an opinion about a current issue or public figure. Editorial cartoons are the most common newspaper form of political cartoon.
Join, or Die: A 1754 woodcut by Benjamin Franklin depicting a segmented snake as a call for colonial unity. Its image became a powerful emblem of collective action in early American politics.
Political cartooning: The practice of creating satirical illustrations about political subjects. This broader practice includes making and publishing political cartoons.
Visual metaphor: An image that represents one thing through the appearance or actions of another. Cartoonists turn abstract policies and conflicts into concrete scenes.
James Gillray: An English caricaturist and printmaker whose late-eighteenth-century prints attacked political leaders and events. His savage caricatures helped define the political cartoon as a popular printed weapon.
Propaganda: Communication designed to influence attitudes or behavior in support of a cause or power. Political cartoons can mobilize support or hostility through simplified visual arguments.
The Plumb-pudding in Danger: A 1805 James Gillray cartoon showing William Pitt and Napoleon dividing a globe shaped like a plum pudding. The image turns imperial rivalry and territorial ambition into a memorable comic scene.
Comic strip: A sequence of cartoon images, usually arranged in panels, that tells a story or develops a gag. Unlike most political cartoons, comic strips build meaning across a continuing sequence of panels.

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