A History of Caricature and Grotesque in Literature and Art

The work surveys the development of caricature and the grotesque from ancient religious and artistic practices through medieval ornamentation to modern satirical literature and pictorial caricature. It traces precedents in Egypt, Greece, and Rome, explains the social functions of masks, parody, and comic performance, and shows how grotesque sculpture and demon imagery were employed in medieval art. The narrative follows continuities into story-books, jest-books, and Reformation-era satire, describes shifting centers of influence—notably German, French, and Dutch contributions—and emphasizes how popular satire both reflected and was shaped by social conditions, finally noting the emergence of distinct national schools.