In a good cartoon, the artist can tell in afew lines as much as a writer can tell in half a dozen paragraphs.Thecartoonist not only tells a story but he also tries to persuade the reader tohis way of thinking. He has great influence on public opinion. In a politicalcampaign, he plays an important part. Controversial issues inCongress or atmeetings of the United Nations may keep the cartoonist well-supplied withcurrent materials.

A clever cartoonist may cause laughterbecause he often uses humor in his drawings. If he is sketching a famousperson, he takes a prominent feature and exaggerates it. Cartoonists, forinstance, like to lengthen an already long nose and to wide an already broadgrin. This exaggeration of a person’s characteristics is called caricature. Theartist uses such exaggeration to put his message across.