Caricature

A caricature is an image in which the artist exaggerates particular perceived characteristics of the subject while simultaneously minimizing others. The image need not be a physical representation and the characteristics that are exaggerated need not be physical attributes. Caricatures can be very derogatory and mean spirited but not all are negative; those drawn without political or social messages in mind tend to be relatively benign. They do not always draw on actual attributes but instead rely on what their creators perceive in their subjects, factual or not. Thus, drawings of Barack Obama or Prince Charles that over-emphasize their prominent ears are caricatures but so are cultural stereotypes.