Caricature is the best known device used by editorial cartoonists to make political statements. Some cartoonists create realistic, portrait-like images while others only hint at the true appearance of the person. 

Caricature is based on deliberate exaggeration of a famous person’s distinctive features. The cartoonist must be careful not to overdo this exaggeration or the person will not be recognized by readers.

Within caricature, the question of what is a “fair” likeness has no answer. The cartoonist is not concerned about fairness, but about expressing an opinion.

Thomas Nast’s caricatures of William Magear Tweed were a very important part of the reason Tweed lost political power and was convicted of corruption. Nast’s hatred of Tweed is clear in his caricature of the Boss in “What Are You Laughing At? To the Victor Belong the Spoils.” The image of Tweed created by Nast was so memorable and so widely known that after Tweed escaped from prison and was traveling in Europe, a Spanish official familiar with Nast’s work recognized the Boss and arrested him, and Tweed was returned to prison in New York City.