View source for Cartoon

{{Short description|Type of two-dimensional visual art}}
{{Distinguish|Comics}}
{{Hatnote|"Cartoons" redirects here. For other uses, see [[Cartoon (disambiguation)]].}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
[[File:Dr. Seuss WikiWorld has removed fishbowl.png|thumb|upright=1.35|Example of a modern cartoon. The text was excerpted by cartoonist Greg Williams from the Wikipedia article on [[Dr. Seuss]].|alt=A cartoon shows a bearded man with a red bow tie holding the hat from Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat".]]
A '''cartoon''' is a type of [[visual art]] that is typically drawn, frequently [[Animation|animated]], in an [[realism (arts)|unrealistic]] or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or series of images intended for [[satire]], [[caricature]], or [[humor]]; or a motion picture that relies on a sequence of illustrations for its animation. Someone who creates cartoons in the first sense is called a ''[[cartoonist]]'',<ref>[[Webster's Dictionary|Merriam-Webster's Dictionary]].</ref> and in the second sense they are usually called an ''[[animator]]''.

The concept originated in the [[Middle Ages]], and first described a preparatory drawing for a piece of art, such as a painting, [[fresco]], [[tapestry]], or [[stained glass]] window. In the 19th century, beginning in ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]'' magazine in 1843, cartoon came to refer – ironically at first – to humorous artworks in magazines and newspapers. Then it also was used for [[political cartoon]]s and [[comic strip]]s. When the medium developed, in the early 20th century, it began to refer to [[Animated cartoon|animated]] films that resembled print cartoons.<ref name=Becker>{{harvnb|Becker|1959}}</ref>

==Fine art==
[[Image:V&A - Raphael, Christ's Charge to Peter (1515).jpg|thumb|''Christ's Charge to Peter'', one of the [[Raphael Cartoons]], {{circa|1516}}, a full-size cartoon design for a tapestry]]
In fine art, a cartoon (from {{Langx|it|cartone}} and {{Langx|nl|karton}}—words describing strong, heavy paper or pasteboard and [[cognate]]s for [[carton]]) is a full-size drawing made on sturdy [[paper]] as a design or ''[[modello]]'' for a [[painting]], [[stained glass]], or [[tapestry]]. Cartoons were typically used in the production of [[fresco]]es, to accurately link the component parts of the composition when painted on damp [[plaster]] over a series of days (''giornate'').{{sfn|Constable|1954|page=115}}  In media such as stained tapestry or stained glass, the cartoon was handed over by the artist to the skilled craftsmen who produced the final work. 

Such cartoons often have pinpricks along the outlines of the design so that a bag of soot patted or "pounced" over a cartoon, held against the wall, would leave black dots on the plaster ("pouncing"). Cartoons by [[Painting|painter]]s, such as the [[Raphael Cartoons]] in London, [[Francisco Goya's tapestry cartoons]], and examples by [[Leonardo da Vinci]], are highly prized in their own right. Tapestry cartoons, usually colored, could be placed behind the [[loom]], where the [[weaving|weaver]] would replicate the design. As tapestries are worked from behind, a mirror could be placed behind the loom to allow the weaver to see their work; in such cases the cartoon was placed behind the weaver.<ref name=Becker/>{{sfn|Adelson|1994|page=330}}

==Mass media==
[[File:SubstanceandShadow.jpg|left|thumb|[[John Leech (caricaturist)|John Leech]], ''Substance and Shadow'' (1843), published as ''Cartoon, No. 1'' in ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]'', the first use of the word cartoon to refer to a satirical drawing]]

In print media, a cartoon is a drawing or series of drawings, usually humorous in intent. This usage dates from 1843, when ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]'' magazine applied the term to satirical drawings in its pages,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Punch.co.uk|title=History of the Cartoon|url=http://punch.co.uk/cartoonhistory02.html|access-date=2007-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111013522/http://www.punch.co.uk/cartoonhistory02.html|archive-date=2007-11-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> particularly sketches by [[John Leech (caricaturist)|John Leech]].{{sfn|Adler|Hill|2008|p=30}} The first of these parodied the preparatory cartoons for grand historical frescoes in the then-new [[Palace of Westminster]] in London.<ref>{{cite news |title=Substance and Shadow: Original Editorial Accompanying "Cartoon, No. I" |url=https://victorianweb.org/art/illustration/leech/101.html |access-date=29 October 2023 |publisher=Victorian web.org}}</ref>                       

[[File:Punch Davy Jones's Locker.png|thumb|upright|''[[Davy Jones' Locker]]'', 1892 ''Punch'' cartoon by Sir [[John Tenniel]]]]
Sir [[John Tenniel]]—illustrator of ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]—''joined ''Punch'' in 1850, and over 50 years contributed over two thousand cartoons.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir John Tenniel |url=https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp04453/sir-john-tenniel |access-date=26 August 2022 |work=National Portrait Gallery}}</ref>

Cartoons can be divided into [[gag cartoon]]s, which include [[editorial cartoons]], and [[comic strip]]s.

Modern single-panel gag cartoons, found in magazines, generally consist of a single drawing with a typeset caption positioned beneath, or, less often, a [[speech balloon]].{{sfn|Bishop|2009|p=92}} Newspaper syndicates have also distributed single-panel gag cartoons by [[Mel Calman]], [[Bill Holman (cartoonist)|Bill Holman]], [[Gary Larson]], [[George Lichty]], [[Fred Neher]] and others. Many consider ''[[The New Yorker|New Yorker]]'' cartoonist [[Peter Arno]] the father of the modern gag cartoon (as did Arno himself).<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Maslin |first1=Michael |title=The Peter Arno Cartoons That Help Rescue The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-peter-arno-cartoons-that-helped-rescue-the-new-yorker |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=2018-09-16 |date=May 5, 2016}}</ref> The roster of magazine gag cartoonists includes [[Charles Addams]], [[Charles Barsotti]], and [[Chon Day]].
{{Comics navbar}}
[[Bill Hoest]], [[Jerry Marcus]], and [[Virgil Partch]] began as magazine gag cartoonists and moved to syndicated comic strips. [[Richard Thompson (cartoonist)|Richard Thompson]] illustrated numerous feature articles in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' before creating his ''[[Cul de Sac (comic strip)|Cul de Sac]]'' comic strip. The sports section of newspapers usually featured cartoons, sometimes including syndicated features such as Chester "Chet" Brown's ''[[All in Sport]]''.

''Editorial cartoons'' are found almost exclusively in news publications and news websites. Although they also employ humor, they are more serious in tone, commonly using [[irony]] or [[satire]]. The art usually acts as a visual metaphor to illustrate a point of view on current social or political topics. Editorial cartoons often include speech balloons and sometimes use multiple panels. [[Editorial cartoonist]]s of note include [[Herblock]], [[David Low (cartoonist)|David Low]], [[Jeff MacNelly]], [[Mike Peters (cartoonist)|Mike Peters]], and [[Gerald Scarfe]].<ref name=Becker/>

''Comic strips'', also known as ''cartoon strips'' in the United Kingdom, are found daily in newspapers worldwide, and are usually a short series of cartoon illustrations in sequence. In the United States, they are not commonly called "cartoons" themselves, but rather "comics" or "[[Sunday comics|funnies]]". Nonetheless, the creators of comic strips—as well as [[comic book]]s and [[graphic novel]]s—are usually referred to as "[[cartoonist]]s". Although humor is the most prevalent subject matter, adventure and drama are also represented in this medium. Some noteworthy cartoonists of humorous comic strips are [[Scott Adams]], [[Charles Schulz]], [[E. C. Segar]], [[Mort Walker]] and [[Bill Watterson]].<ref name=Becker/>

===Political===
{{main|Political cartoon}}

Political cartoons are like illustrated editorials that serve visual commentaries on political events. They offer subtle criticism which are cleverly quoted with humour and satire to the extent that the criticized does not get embittered.

The pictorial satire of [[William Hogarth]] is regarded as a precursor to the development of political cartoons in 18th century England.{{sfn|Press|1981|page=34}} [[George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend|George Townshend]] produced some of the first overtly political cartoons and caricatures in the 1750s.{{sfn|Press|1981|page=34}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Birth+of+England%27s+pocket+cartoon%3B+LOCAL+HISTORY+Smile+awhile+through...-a0153110971| title=Birth of England's pocket cartoon|author=Chris Upton|publisher=The Free Library}}</ref> The medium began to develop in the latter part of the 18th century under the direction of its great exponents, [[James Gillray]] and [[Thomas Rowlandson]], both from London. Gillray explored the use of the medium for lampooning and [[caricature]], and has been referred to as the father of the political cartoon.{{sfn|Rowson|2015}} By calling the king, prime ministers and generals to account for their behaviour, many of Gillray's satires were directed against [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]], depicting him as a pretentious buffoon, while the bulk of his work was dedicated to ridiculing the ambitions of [[revolutionary France]] and [[Napoleon]].{{sfn|Rowson|2015}} [[George Cruikshank]] became the leading cartoonist in the period following Gillray, from 1815 until the 1840s. His career was renowned for his social caricatures of English life for popular publications.

[[File:Tammany Ring, Nast crop.jpg|thumb|Nast depicts the [[Tweed Ring]]: "Who stole the people's money?" / {{" '}}Twas him."|alt=A cartoon showing a circle of men pointing their fingers at the man to their right with grimaces on their faces.]]

By the mid 19th century, major political newspapers in many other countries featured cartoons commenting on the politics of the day. [[Thomas Nast]], in New York City, showed how realistic German drawing techniques could redefine American cartooning.{{sfn|Adler|Hill|2008|p=24}} His 160 cartoons relentlessly pursued the criminal characteristic of the [[William M. Tweed|Tweed machine]] in New York City, and helped bring it down. Indeed, Tweed was arrested in Spain when police identified him from Nast's cartoons.{{sfn|Adler|Hill|2008|pp=49–50}} In Britain, Sir [[John Tenniel]] was the toast of London.{{sfn|Morris|Tenniel|2005|p=344}} In France under the [[July Monarchy]], [[Honoré Daumier]] took up the new genre of political and social [[La Caricature (1830–1843)|caricature]], most famously lampooning the rotund [[Louis Philippe I|King Louis Philippe]].

Political cartoons can be humorous or satirical, sometimes with piercing effect. The target of the humor may complain, but can seldom fight back. Lawsuits have been very rare; the first successful lawsuit against a cartoonist in over a century in Britain came in 1921, when [[J. H. Thomas]], the leader of the [[National Union of Railwaymen]] (NUR), initiated libel proceedings against the magazine of the [[British Communist Party]]. Thomas claimed defamation in the form of cartoons and words depicting the events of "Black Friday", when he allegedly betrayed the locked-out [[Miners' Federation of Great Britain|Miners' Federation]]. To Thomas, the framing of his image by the far left threatened to grievously degrade his character in the popular imagination. Soviet-inspired communism was a new element in European politics, and cartoonists unrestrained by tradition tested the boundaries of libel law. Thomas won the lawsuit and restored his reputation.<ref>Samuel S. Hyde, {{" '}}Please, Sir, he called me "Jimmy!' Political Cartooning before the Law: 'Black Friday', J.H. Thomas, and the Communist Libel Trial of 1921", ''Contemporary British History'' (2011) '''25'''(4), pp. 521–550.</ref>

===Scientific===
Cartoons such as ''[[xkcd]]'' have also found their place in the world of [[science]], [[mathematics]], and [[technology]]. For example, the cartoon ''Wonderlab'' looked at daily life in the chemistry lab.  In the U.S., one well-known cartoonist for these fields is [[Sidney Harris (cartoonist)|Sidney Harris]]. Many of [[Gary Larson]]'s cartoons have a scientific flavor.

===Comic books<!--'Humor comics', 'Humour comics', and 'Comedy comics' redirect here-->===
{{Main|Comic book}}
{{Also|History of comics|Teen humor comics}}
The first [[comic-strip]] cartoons were of a humorous tone.<ref>{{cite book |first=R. C. |last=Harvey |author-link=R. C. Harvey |chapter=Comedy at the Juncture of Word and Image |editor1-last=Varnum |editor1-first=Robin |editor2-last=Gibbons |editor2-first=Christina T. |title=The Language of Comics: Word and Image |publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]] |year=2001 |page=77 |isbn=978-1-57806-414-4}}</ref> Notable early '''humor comics'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> include the Swiss comic-strip book ''[[Mr. Vieux Bois]]'' (1837), the British strip ''[[Ally Sloper]]'' (first appearing in 1867) and the American strip ''[[Yellow Kid]]'' (first appearing in 1895).

In the United States in the 1930s, books with cartoons were magazine-format "[[American comic book]]s" with original material, or occasionally reprints of newspaper comic strips.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 18, 2008 |title=A History of the Comic Book |url=http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/033comic.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525003144/http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/033comic.html |archive-date=25 May 2013 |access-date=16 July 2014 |website=Random History}}</ref>

In Britain in the 1930s, [[Action-adventure comics|adventure comic]] magazines became quite popular, especially those published by [[DC Thomson]]; the publisher sent observers around the country to talk to boys and learn what they wanted to read about. The story line in magazines, comic books and cinema that most appealed to boys was the glamorous heroism of British soldiers fighting wars that were exciting and just.<ref>[[Ernest Sackville Turner]], ''Boys Will Be Boys: The Story of Sweeney Todd, Deadwood Dick, Sexton Blake, Billy Bunter, Dick Barton et al.'' (3rd ed. 1975).</ref> DC Thomson issued the first [[The Dandy|''The Dandy Comic'']] in December 1937. It had a revolutionary design that broke away from the usual children's comics that were published broadsheet in size and not very colourful. Thomson capitalized on its success with a similar product ''[[The Beano]]'' in 1938.<ref>{{cite book|author=M. Keith Booker|title=Comics through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas &#91;4 volumes&#93;: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hnuQBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA74|year=2014|page=74|publisher=Abc-Clio |isbn=9780313397516}}</ref>

On some occasions, new [[gag cartoon]]s have been created for book publication.

==Animation==
[[File:Animhorse.gif|thumb|An [[animated cartoon]] horse, drawn by [[rotoscoping]] from [[Eadweard Muybridge]]'s 19th-century photos|alt=a running horse (animated)]]
{{main|Animated cartoon}}
Because of the stylistic similarities between comic strips and early animated films, ''cartoon'' came to refer to [[animation]], and the word ''cartoon'' is currently used in reference to both [[animated cartoon]]s and gag cartoons.{{sfn|Walasek|2009|p=116}}  While ''animation'' designates any style of illustrated images seen in rapid succession to give the impression of movement, the word "cartoon" is most often used as a descriptor for television programs and short films aimed at children, possibly featuring [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphized]] animals,{{sfn|Wells|2008|p=41}} [[superhero]]es, the adventures of child protagonists or related themes.

==See also==
*[[Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum]]
*[[Caricature]]
*[[Comics]]
*[[Comics studies]]
*[[List of cartoonists]]
*[[List of editorial cartoonists]]
*[[List of comic strips]]

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book
 |first=Candace
 |last=Adelson
 |title=European tapestry in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qjPrAAAAMAAJ
 |year=1994
 |publisher=Minneapolis Institute of Arts
 |location=Minnesota
|isbn=9780810932623
 }}
* {{cite book|first1=John|last1=Adler|first2=Draper|last2=Hill|title=Doomed by Cartoon: How Cartoonist Thomas Nast and the New York Times Brought Down Boss Tweed and His Ring of Thieves|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6YjB5FnKgwC|year=2008|publisher=[[Morgan James Publishing]]|isbn=978-1-60037-443-2}}
* {{cite book|last1=Becker|first1=Stephen D.|first2=Rube|last2=Goldberg|title=Comic Art in America: A Social History of the Funnies, the Political Cartoons, Magazine Humor, Sporting Cartoons, and Animated Cartoons|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=1959|ref={{SfnRef|Becker|1959}} }}
* {{cite book|last=Bishop|first=Franklin|title=Cartoonist's Bible: An Essential Reference for Practicing Artist|year=2009|location=London|publisher=Chartwell Books|isbn=978-0-7858-2085-7}}
* {{cite book
 |editor-last=Blackbeard
 |editor-first=Bill
 |title=The Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics
 |year=1977
 |publisher=Smithsonian Inst. Press
}}
* {{cite book
 |first=William George
 |last=Constable
 |title=The Painter's Workshop
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jz6xYIn0_oQC&pg=PA115
 |access-date=20 January 2013
 |year=1954
 |publisher=Courier Dover Publications
|isbn=9780486238364
 }}
* {{cite book
 |author-link1=Maurice Horn
 |last=Horn
 |first=Maurice
 |title=The World Encyclopedia of Comics
 |url=https://archive.org/details/worldencyclopedi00horn
 |url-access=registration
 |year=1976
 |publisher=[[Chelsea House]]
|isbn=9780877540427
 }}
* {{cite book
 |first1=Frankie
 |last1=Morris
 |first2=Sir John
 |last2=Tenniel
 |title=Artist Of Wonderland: The Life, Political Cartoons, And Illustrations Of Tenniel
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iO1l532dx_YC
 |year=2005
 |publisher=University of Virginia Press
|isbn=9780813923437
 }}
* {{cite book
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fwzWAAAAMAAJ
 |title=The Political Cartoon
 |first=Charles
 |last=Press
 |year=1981
 |publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
|isbn=9780838619018
 }}
* {{cite book|last=Robinson|first=Jerry|title=The Comics: An Illustrated History of Comic Strip Art|year=1974|publisher=[[G.P. Putnam's Sons]]}}
* {{cite news|title=Satire, sewers and statesmen: why James Gillray was king of the cartoon|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/mar/21/satire-sewers-and-statesmen-james-gillray-king-of-cartoon|agency=The Guardian|last=Rowson|first=Martin|date=21 March 2015}}
* {{cite book |last=Walasek |first=Helen |year=2009 |title=The Best of Punch Cartoons: 2,000 Humor Classics |location=England |publisher=Overlook Press |isbn=978-1-5902-0308-8}}
* {{cite book
 |last=Wells
 |first=Paul
 |title=The Animated Bestiary: Animals, Cartoons, and Culture
 |date=November 28, 2008
 |publisher=Rutgers University Press
 |isbn=978-0-8135-4643-8
}}
* {{cite book|last=Yockey|first=Steve|title=Cartoon|year=2008|publisher=Samuel French|isbn=978-0-573-66383-3}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Cartoons}}
{{Wiktionary}}
{{portal|Cartoon|Comics|Arts|Visual arts|Film}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190314150046/http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma96/PUCK/intro.html Dan Becker, History of Cartoons] (archived 14 March 2019)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110225195334/http://historyproject.ucdavis.edu/ic/index.php?region=-1&topic=-1&standard_cal=-1&collection=-1&index=0&per_page=24&query=cartoon Marchand collection] – cartoons and photos  (archived 25 February 2011)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110519142912/http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/prog04/index.html Stamp Act 1765] with British and American cartoons (archived 19 May 2011)
* [http://graphicwitness.org/ineye/sitemap.htm "Graphic Witness" political caricatures in history]
* [http://graphicwitness.org/group/keppler.htm Keppler cartoons]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091210212540/http://www.libraries.psu.edu/waringcollections/cartoons/toon.html#index Index of cartoonists in the Fred Waring Collection] (archived 10 December 2009)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517145807/http://www.hnu.edu/ishs/index.htm International Society for Humor Studies] (archived 17 May 2008)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100731045026/http://www.harpweek.com/ ''Harper's Weekly''] – 150 cartoons on elections 1860–1912; Reconstruction topics; Chinese exclusion; plus American Political Prints from the Library of Congress, 1766–1876 (archived 31 July 2010)
* {{cite web
 |first        = R.
 |last         = Fiore
 |title        = Adventures in Nomenclature: Literal, Liberal and Freestyle
 |work         = [[The Comics Journal]]
 |publisher    = [[Fantagraphics Books]]
 |url          = http://classic.tcj.com/blog/adventures-in-nomenclature-literal-liberal-and-freestyle/
 |date         = 2010-01-31
 |access-date   = 2013-02-05
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150206170000/http://classic.tcj.com/blog/adventures-in-nomenclature-literal-liberal-and-freestyle/
 |archive-date = 2015-02-06
 |url-status   = dead
}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Cartoon | volume= 5 |last1= Rossetti | first1= William Michael |author1-link= William Michael Rossetti|last2= Spielmann |first2= Marion Harry Alexander |author2-link= Marion Spielmann | pages = 434&ndash;435 |short= 1}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cartooning| ]]
[[Category:Comics terminology]]
[[Category:Visual arts genres]]
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