Caricatures
Caricatures are a comic portrait that deliberately exaggerate the subject's distinctive features or peculiarities to produce a comic effect. Caricature artists were popular entertainers at the Chautauqua. Have students work in pairs. Each person will need a No. 2 pencil and a plain piece of white paper. With the students sitting directly opposite each other, they take turns drawing each other by beginning at the very top of the head. The student must not look at the paper or lift the pencil until the drawing is completed. The student continues to draw what is seen until the he or she returns to the top of the head. Fine details may be added later.
For more information about the history of caricature and to view examples of famous historical caricatures, go to the History of Caricature. The Caricature Zone has over 1000 caricatures of famous people, including the two shown above. It also has games and activities about caricatures.