Caricature of a Man in the Small Hat — Claude Monet

ABOUT THIS WORK

This striking graphite drawing, created when the artist was just 15, captures a man with an exaggerated profile and a comically small hat. The bold lines and simplified forms emphasize his prominent nose and chin, giving him a somewhat bewildered expression. It's a testament to the artist's early skill in observation and caricature, a popular art form in mid-19th century France. Before he would become known for his luminous landscapes, the young artist honed his craft by drawing portraits and caricatures for money in his hometown of Le Havre. This early work offers a glimpse into his foundational drawing abilities, showcasing a different facet of his artistic journey before he fully embraced the Impressionist movement.

DETAILS

Artist: Claude Monet
Date: 1855
Medium: Graphite on cream wove paper
Location: Art Institute of Chicago
Dimensions: 19.8 × 14.9 cm (7 13/16 × 5 7/8 in.)
Collection: Prints and Drawings
Culture: France
Credit line: Mr. and Mrs. Carter H. Harrison Collection

ART MOVEMENTS

Impressionism

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What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Pick one and we’ll show you exactly where to look.

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01

The big nose

Follow the profile down to the huge, bulbous nose. Monet pushes it far past life, which is the joke at the heart of the caricature.

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02

The dark hat

The hat is the darkest, most heavily worked patch on the sheet. Dense, scribbled strokes make it pop against the pale paper and crown the figure.

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03

Tiny legs, big top

Follow the long coat down the body to the short, narrow legs. The squashed proportions make the man look comically top-heavy.

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04

Hand and pen

At the desk edge, the hand holds what looks like a pen or a small tool. A few light lines suggest he is busy writing or drawing.

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05

Handwritten captions

Monet's name is written at the top, and a French caption runs along the bottom. It reads roughly as the man with the little hat, like a joking label.

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THE ARTIST

Claude Monet

1840–1926 · France

Claude Monet, the visionary founder of Impressionism, transformed how we see light and nature, famously capturing the same scene repeatedly to reveal fleeting moments.

Read Monet’s full story