Exhibition Curators
The monsters and machines featured in this exhibition are graphic expressions of hostility and phobia vis-à-vis great powers that were feared and loathed because of their perceived potential to pose danger, impose their will, and inflict harm. The twentieth century was a century of tense contest between outsize, ideologically self-justifying global powers: socialism, fascism, capitalist democracy, theocracy. These powers conceived of the world as divided into spheres of influence: their own and those of their similarly powerful adversaries. This contest marginalized a great many human categories. The dominance of these powers is represented in the reflections of this contest showcased in this exhibition. When they are represented, less powerful actors tend to be represented obliquely or marginally. This means that, in addition to the luxuriously displayed dehumanizing venom aimed at “worthy” (powerful) foes by artists representing the views of similarly dominant groups, absences of other categories from these images are themselves eloquent indicators of a marginalizing, belittling disregard.
The languages and countries represented by these materials reflect the limits of the curators’ historical and linguistic knowledge, as well as the limits of the collections. The exhibition is nonetheless an attempt to view caricature through a more global lens, comparing themes across cultural, national, and linguistic boundaries.
The commentary in this exhibition is intended to clarify specific intentions and strategies at work in these images, but many of these works defy succinct contextualization. In addition to imagery that often draws on – and creatively modifies - multiple iconographic traditions, these images represent responses to of-the-moment actors and events that, in many cases, did not become part of broader collective memory. They are messages from one inhabitant of a fleeting historical moment to other inhabitants of that same moment, and for this reason are difficult to understand outside of that immediate context. If you have questions or comments about any of the artifacts, please submit them using the link below. The curators will be delighted to hear from you.
Ask the Curator
The curators would love to hear from you. Please submit any questions or comments about individual exhibits or the exhibition as a whole.
