The Art of Satire

In this activity, you will:

• Examine and describe a satirical drawing of French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte.
• Discuss the use of satire and caricature for commenting on historical and current events.
• Create a drawing that uses satire to comment on a contemporary issue.

• Multiple Parts

• Paper
• Pencils
• Colored pencils (optional)

Examine an Artwork About the French Revolution

This drawing was made by Francisco de Goya. It was meant to be a satire in the time that it was made. However, humor changes over time. What made people laugh in the 1800’s might not be as funny to people today.

Start by looking closely at the details to see if you can uncover what’s going on in this drawing. Write or discuss your responses to the following questions.

• What do you see? List every person, object, and symbol in the cartoon.
• What are the characters doing? How do you think they feel about each other? Use evidence from the image.
• Find at least one physical feature that looks exaggerated or over-the-top. What is it?
• What was your first reaction? Was it funny? Why or why not?
• Why might this drawing be funny to some people but not others?

After answering the questions, read Explore Contemptuous of the Insults to learn more about it.

Read About the Historical Context

Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France, believed he stood for the ideals of the French Revolution—liberty and equality. In 1808, he decided to “liberate” Spain by making it part of his empire. He placed his own brother, Joseph, on the Spanish throne and sent over 100,000 soldiers to enforce French rule.

Napoleon expected the Spanish people to welcome the occupation. Instead, they resisted fiercely. A brutal war lasted five years. By 1813, Spanish forces, with help from Britain and Portugal, had driven the French out.

Francisco de Goya was a Spanish artist who lived through this invasion. The drawing’s caption reads: “despreciar los ynsultos” which can be translated as “Despise the insults” or “Contemptuous of the insults.” This was Goya’s way of protesting Napoleon’s occupation of Spain.

Create a Satirical Cartoon

Use Contemptuous of the Insults as your inspiration for making a drawing that is also a satire.

Choose an Issue

Pick a current event or ongoing issue that matters to you. It could be local, national, or global. Write 1–2 sentences explaining your point of view on it.

Plan Your Satire

Before you draw anything, write your answers these questions.

• Who or what will you depict as a caricature? What feature or behavior will you exaggerate?
• What symbols will you include to reinforce your message?
• Will you use a caption, speech bubble, or title? Write the words you will use.
• What emotion do you want the viewer to feel: laughter, discomfort, anger, surprise?

Sketch and Refine

Do a rough pencil sketch. Get the composition down. Don’t worry about detail yet.

Check: Is the message clear without explanation? If not, adjust your image or text.

Refine your final version: add color if you’d like, finalize the text, and add any shading.

Write an Artist’s Statement

Write 4–6 sentences that address these questions.

• What issue are you commenting on, and what is your argument?
• What satirical techniques did you use, and why?
• What did you find challenging about making a fair or responsible critique?
• How does your cartoon connect to the satirical drawing by Goya?

A representation in either literature or visual art that includes a ridiculous distortion or exaggeration of body parts or physical characteristics to create a comic or gross imitation.

Expressing disrespect, contempt, disdain, or hateful feelings.

Using irony, sarcasm, or ridicule  to expose, denounce, or make fun of the stupidity or foolishness of institutions, people, or social structures.