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CONTACT St Just Le Martel Cartoon Festival Tel: +33 5 55 09 26 70 Fax: +33 5 55 09 26 33 www.st-just.com

At one time, to openly discuss caricature as ‘art’ was considered a silly presumption worthy of ridicule. Today, these hand-drawn, whimsical sketches represent a highly regarded artistic genre, in which gentle mockery and fond affection interfuse. A centuries-old art form that experienced its first successes in the closed aristocratic circles of Paris, the art of the caricature portrait remains a long-standing French tradition. Drawing on the natural characteristics of the subject (large, puppy-dog eyes or crooked smile); acquired characteristics (facial expressions and mannerisms); and vanities (spectacles and hairstyle), a caricature distorts the essence of a person to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. While some caricaturists stretch that artistic embroidery to extremes, the prevailing style in France is kindly teasing. Like a photograph, hand-drawn caricature provides a commemorative snapshot of a cherished moment in time. Nowadays, France’s caricaturists ply their ancient art amongst the county’s boardwalk flower stalls and boulevards to offer unique, deeply-personal and treasured sentimental keepsakes that are sure to raise a smile.

Couples keen for an unconventional romantic portrait are increasingly turning to caricature as a medium as it can often better reflect the importance of humour in the life they share. The romantic sentiment is there, it just requires deciphering with subtlety more than overblown amplification. ‘A sense of humour is très importante to a lasting marriage... oui?!’ joke the artists at their easels. Less formal than a stuffy engagement photo and more personal than a standard wedding announcement, an off-the-wall illustration can capture the essence of a fun-loving couple in humorous terms.

Some of France’s greatest caricaturists include Charles Philipon, owner of the magazine La Caricature, who pushed satire to the limits in the 1800s. In the 1900s, Comte Amadee de Noe, better known as Cham, reflected his eccentric noble lineage in his artistry while Honoré Daumier (1808–1879) is considered to be a pioneer of the modern caricature style. Even Claude Monet, an artist better known for his expressive canvasses, was a passionate caricaturist, sketching family and friends for mutual amusement during celebrations at his home. Today, Europe’s largest Festival of Caricature is held at St Just le Martel, just to the east of Limoges. During the week-long October event, visitors can commission works and buy one-off sketches from Frances’s most prized illustrators who draw in friendly competition for a fittingly unconventional award – a fully-grown cow.

A caricature drawing makes a fun memento.