Is Caricature a Male Art? Women Caricaturists Past and Present - Academic Conference Interdisciplinary academic conference Place: Institute of Art History, University of Warsaw; Eryk Lipiński Museum of Caricature in Warsaw Conference dates: 28–29 May 2026 Submission deadline: 28 February 2026 “Caricature is a male art. A woman uses it rarely, both in visual arts and in literature. Apart from Stryjeńska, Berezowska and Magdalena Samozwaniec I do not see women among us who would practice this way of communicating their observations about life.” The words of Nela Samotyhowa, published in a review of the First Salon of Polish Caricaturists in 1928, reflected contemporary beliefs and knowledge about women’s participation in this field. Today we know more: the first amateur women artists working in caricature and satirical drawing appeared on Polish lands at the end of the 18th century; in the 19th century the activity of female illustrators continued to develop, and in the 20th century there was an intensive increase in female talents. For most women caricature was a side activity, although some — like Maja Berezowska or Anna Gosławska-Lipińska (Ha-Ga) — treated it as their main artistic field. Contemporary women illustrators combine classical techniques with new media and increasingly present works online. Despite their presence in the art world and the media, the work of women caricaturists is sometimes marginalized. The aim of the conference is to restore the voice of women artists and to study artistic strategies, ways of using humor, irony and image deformation to critique social roles, power, patriarchy and gender stereotypes. Main questions of the conference: - To what extent is caricature perceived as "male" and does this reflect a broader attribution of "masculinity" to art over the centuries? - Does the process of breaking gender exclusion in high art still progress more slowly in regard to caricature as a low form? - Does online creative work allow for crossing the gender barrier? We invite researchers from various disciplines (art history, history, media studies, cultural studies, sociology, gender studies, history of the press and visual communication) to submit paper proposals. Papers concerning women caricaturists from other countries are also welcome. Suggested research areas: - Visual strategies in the work of women illustrators: line, deformation and visual narrative; the language of caricature in illustration, cover design and posters. - Caricature and gender: strategies of joke, irony and subversion in depicting gender and social roles. - Humor and feminism: satire as a tool of emancipation and critique of patriarchy. - Media and the press: the role of women caricaturists in satirical, alternative and online press. - Transnational perspectives: cross-cultural comparisons of women caricaturists. - Digital caricature and social media: contemporary women artists online, memes and new forms of visual satire. - Censorship and self-censorship: restrictions on artistic freedom and survival strategies in male-dominated environments. - Caricature and identity: topics of race, class, sexual orientation and ethnic origin. - Reception and criticism: how female caricatures are received by audiences and critics. We are open to other proposals falling within the conference scope. IMPORTANT! Submissions: please send an abstract (up to 300 words) and a biography including academic degree/title and affiliation (up to 150 words) by 28 February 2026 to: karykaturzystki@gmail.com Notification of paper acceptance will be sent by 23 March 2026. Participation in the conference is free of charge. Organizers do not cover travel and accommodation costs. Language of the conference: Polish Scientific committee of the conference: prof. dr hab. Agata Jakubowska, Institute of Art History, University of Warsaw dr hab. Iwona Luba, prof. UW, Institute of Art History, University of Warsaw dr hab. Dobrochna Kałwa, Faculty of History, University of Warsaw dr Piotr Kułak, Institute of Art History, University of Warsaw dr Agnieszka Morawińska dr Katarzyna Murawska-Muthesius, Birkbeck, University of London dr Paweł Płoski, Eryk Lipiński Museum of Caricature in Warsaw dr Karolina Prymlewicz, National Museum in Warsaw Organizing committee: dr Piotr Kułak, Institute of Art History, University of Warsaw Agnieszka Goluch, Institute of Art History, University of Warsaw Maria Muszkowska, Eryk Lipiński Museum of Caricature in Warsaw Paulina Pilcicka, Eryk Lipiński Museum of Caricature in Warsaw Organizers: Institute of Art History, University of Warsaw Eryk Lipiński Museum of Caricature in Warsaw
