Humour in the art of paintig and W. Hogarth

The relation between the arts of painting and humor goes back to the paintings from antic ages found in caves. When we have a look at the history of art, as a matter of fact, many artists from Hogarth to Daumier and Goya used humor in their paintings. The cartoons and the ironic elements in paintings of William Hogarth, an important representative of the British art of painting between the 18th and the 19th centuries, are interpreted to demonstrate the relation between the art of painting and humor. The same remarkable relation is observed with paintings of Goya and Daumier of later times. As a significant fact that strengthens the striking effect and narration power of the art of painting, humor is worth of evaluating in terms of artistic and criticism literature. Key Words: Art, Painting, W. Hogarth, Humor, Cartoons, Political and Social Criticism, Mentality