Caricature of a Standing Man
1857
Medium
Graphite
Dimensions
Sheet: 16 1/4 × 10 3/4 in. (41.3 × 27.3 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Eric Carlson, in honor of Donato Esposito, 2013
Accession Number
2013.608.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the mid-19th century, caricaturist Hippolyte Mailly captured the spirit of satire through quick, expressive sketches like *Caricature of a Standing Man* (1857). Rendered in graphite on a generous sheet measuring 16¼ × 10¾ inches, this drawing exemplifies the artist's skill in distilling human foibles into witty profiles. Mailly, active during the Second French Empire, was part of a vibrant tradition of graphic satire that flourished in Paris periodicals, poking fun at social types, politicians, and everyday eccentrics. The profile view here amplifies the man's exaggerated features—likely h...