Definition - Specific Aspects

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Typification and allegories

The use of symbols in caricatures could serve to identify that which is represented as belonging to a certain (e.g. national, social, or ethnic) group. If this is the case, it would be indicative of a typification.

Example:

The representation of Lederhosen and a mug of beer to identify a person of Germanic origin is a typifying instrument. However, typifications are not to be mistaken with allegories. In the case of the Lederhosen and beer mug, “the” German is represented via a model, not an allegory (such as with e.g. Germania).

When it comes to European nations, allegories serve as a symbol for entire countries. France is represented in caricatures by the French Marianne. The Marianne’s main attribute is (as with the allegory of Liberté) the Phrygian Cap.

Bauer-Heyd traces the identification of the beautiful female figure with the French Republic back to 1820. “La Marianne” was the name of an association that strove for the reunification of republican ideals. The image of the Marianne as the representative of the French nation remained following their divestiture⁴

The Deutscher Michel

This figure serves as a representative of “the” Germans, and is the oldest of all national allegories (its existence can be traced all the way back to 1524). It is derived from the patron saint of the Germans, the archangel Michael, who can be interpreted as the Christian equivalent of the Germanic Odin.

The Michel has been present in caricature most notably since the eve of the 1848 German revolution. The jelly bag cap quickly degenerated into a sleeping cap, as can be seen in a 1849 caricature from the Eulenspiegel.

Source: Eulenspiegel, 1849

The Michel is commonly characterized as appearing inactive and helpless.

A 1993 caricature by Hanel shows that this fatuity can evolve all the way into blindness: In this case, the events in Hoyerswerda were being addressed, an area of Germany where arson attacks killed several people of non-German origin.

4 Bauer-Heyd, Walter: National personifications in political caricature. In Pester; Lloy, Budapest, October 15th, 1938.

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