THE POLITICAL CARICATURE OF ALEXANDER BOZHINOV – NARRATIVES AND ASSESSMENTS

Abstract

The article aims to reconstruct historical narratives and assessments of events and personalities from the 20s and 30s of the 20th century through the political caricatures of the Bulgarian artist Alexander Bozhinov. Through a focus on spatial designations (geographical areas, Topos), verbal signs (various explications), contamination of mutually exclusive forms, a historical narrative (narration) of current events and processes is achieved, but with the emphasized role of individuals in them. On the other hand, political caricature as a kind of critical assessment of what is happening nuances the artist's attitude to the image - from optimistic laughter to ironic-sarcastic reaction to sad reckoning. And another thing, by definition, the political caricature reflects the topical. But at its best – so it turns out – it also contains prospects for the future development of what is happening. As for the Bulgarian political caricature, its birth and evolution belong to the work of the artist Alexander Bozhinov. His caricatures, painted for decades, have established themselves as a kind of сhronicle of this art in Bulgaria. Bozhinov began publishing his caricatures at the end of the 19th century. But already in the first decade of the 20th century, his caricatures became an example of high mastery. It is no coincidence that generations of Bulgarian caricaturists unequivocally declare Bozhinov as their forerunner and teacher. In the 30s and 40s of the 20th century, Bozhinov's Political Caricatures reached a new degree of high mastery-the artist sketched in general the scene of the event, emphasizing the dynamic image of a character or group of characters. Humor is both situational but also the result of an unfolding contradiction. To some extent, the principles of the architectonic construction of the caricature resemble the comedic constructs. The caricaturе image is becoming more and more definitely a testimony to the artist's deep humanism, to the values he professes - peace and cultural building. In accordance with the genre laws, in the Bulgarian political caricature the emphasis is placed on the powerful - the Bulgarian monarch, ministers, members of Parliament, as well as on bankers and merchants. At the same time, the political caricature reflects the characteristic social understandings of Bulgarians towards the Great Powers, as well as towards other countries, especially those in the Balkans. It should also be emphasized the depiction of typological features for the mentality of Bulgarians and Balkans, such as foreign worship. In this case, mediately, according to the caricatures, from the ambition of foreigners to impose their will. As foreign worshipers, Bozhinov portrays ministers who, according to him, betray the national interest for personal gain. During the period of the 30s of the 20th century, the images in the Bulgarian political caricature and comedy show symptomatic concepts and understandings for the Bulgarian artist. Unlike other cultural models, Bulgarian artists are keenly interested in societal contradictions – both nationally and in a global context.The political caricature of the artist Alexander Bozhinov reflects the historical processes of the first half of the 20th century as a transition from a comic to a tragic social state and reveals those topical contradictions and clashes that become a metaphor for future sinister events.